Freemasonry issues guidance about use of ‘smart glasses’
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June 25, 2026
Lincolnshire’s Provincial office has shared a message circulated in the Province of Derbyshire about the use of ‘smart’ or AI glasses. It says they resemble an ordinary pair of spectacles, but are wearable computer devices that, amongst other things, collect information with their microphones and forward-facing cameras.
Some provide a ‘heads-up display’ so that, for example, a pre-loaded ritual can be read by the wearer, which scrolls the text automatically as the device listens to all the other participants.
Smart glasses are remarkably sophisticated, and they can quickly and effortlessly relay copies of footage and photographs to an external location and without the user necessarily knowing this is happening.
It is the position of Metropolitan Grand Lodge that all such devices have no place in a Lodge or Chapter meeting, even if the device is turned off.
Brethren and Companions are reminded of the following:
- Any form of photography, or transmission of images, during a meeting is strictly prohibited. Breach renders the member liable to disciplinary proceedings, whether or not a breach of Rule 177 of the Book of Constitutions has been committed.
- The same applies to taking or transmitting audio recordings.
- All mobile telephones must be switched off in open Lodge and Chapter, by Grand Lodge Edict as long ago as 2014.
- There is a privacy objection to smart glasses which, by their nature, are recording devices which are unobtrusive. It will not be immediately obvious to all others present that they are being worn and if so whether they are recording or not.
