New York nightclub says bringing smart glasses inside could result in a lifetime ban

A popular New York City nightclub is taking a firm stance against wearable surveillance technology. The club, Basement, has announced that patrons who bring smart glasses into the venue could be turned away immediately and may even face a permanent ban.

Here's what to know

In a late-August social media post highlighted by Futurism, Basement said its preexisting no-photo, no-video rule will now apply to smart glasses as well.

"Our no photo/no video policy exists to protect the privacy, safety, and freedom of everyone on our dance floor," the club wrote. It went on to warn, "Anyone bringing smart glasses into the venue, whether wearing them or carrying them in a bag, will be asked to leave and may be permanently banned."

Basement's policy speaks to a growing sense that social spaces may be encroached upon by surveillance devices, from artificial-intelligence-powered Flock camera systems to personal tech. The unease may feel especially tense in places where people expect to dance, relax, and express themselves without fear of being secretly recorded.

Online, supporters praised the move. 

One commenter wrote, "BASEDment." Another wrote, "This should be policy at every club."

More background

As a standard, some nightclubs limit photography and video to protect the atmosphere inside. For many people, a dance floor is one of the few public spaces where they can move, dress, and socialize freely.

Smart glasses can complicate that expectation because they can be used to record discreetly. Unlike a phone, which is visible when someone lifts it to film, glasses can make it much harder for bystanders to know whether they are being recorded at all.

That uncertainty can make a space feel less safe, especially for women and other groups that already face harassment in nightlife environments.

There are also concerns around consent and data use. As Futurism pointed out, critics have raised alarms about people being recorded without permission and about how footage captured by wearable devices could later be accessed, stored, shared, or even monetized.

What's being done?

Basement's policy is one example of a venue trying to protect community members from the impacts of a new technology before it becomes more normalized. By making its position public, the club is setting expectations for patrons as well as a standard that other businesses may follow.

At the same time, blanket bans can invite criticism. Some may argue that broad rules could be difficult to enforce or may unfairly affect guests. Specifically, they may unfairly impact those whose needed eyewear resembles recording devices — something with which Basement and other venues may need to contend.

Still, the policy points to a future in which businesses may decide that protecting consent and preserving device-free social spaces matters more than accommodating every new gadget.

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