New york nightclub enforces smart glasses ban, threatening permanent entry restrictions

On August 27, 2026, the renowned New York nightclub Basement announced a new policy banning smart glasses, stating that anyone caught wearing or carrying such devices would be asked to leave and could face permanent exclusion. The club emphasized that the ban is aimed at protecting the privacy, safety, and freedom of all patrons, as smart glasses can compromise these values by enabling covert recording. This move aligns with broader global trends, as Norway's Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Karin Næs Nødland, recently called for a ban on AI glasses in schools. Meanwhile, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also prohibited employees from wearing Meta smart glasses due to privacy concerns. Meta has since updated its AI glasses to stop recording if the indicator light is obscured.