A California judge expressed strong disapproval towards members of Mark Zuckerberg’s team for wearing Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, which have built-in cameras, as they arrived at a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday. This incident occurred during a significant trial examining the effects of social media on children.
The judge, Carolyn Kuhl, instructed the Meta team to remove their glasses immediately, warning that failure to dispose of any recorded footage could lead to contempt of court charges. Jacob Ward, a technology journalist and host of the Rip Current Podcast, described the situation as “an extraordinary misstep” by Meta, emphasizing the seriousness of the breach. It remains unclear whether the team was using the glasses inside the courtroom or for how long they had them on. Meta has yet to provide a comment on the situation.
In Los Angeles County Superior Court, the use of recording devices is typically prohibited. A spokesperson for the court pointed out that judicial officers retain the authority to impose restrictions on photography and videography within their courtrooms, in accordance with local and state regulations.
The trial involves allegations from a plaintiff, referred to by the initials “KGM,” who claims that her early exposure to social media led to addiction and negative impacts on her mental health, raising significant concerns about the role of platforms like Meta and YouTube in promoting compulsive usage among young individuals.
This incident highlights ongoing scrutiny and questions surrounding the responsibilities of social media companies toward their younger users, reiterating the importance of regulating behavior that may contribute to mental health issues in children.