Norway is proposing a temporary ban on AI glasses in places where people may reasonably expect privacy, as ministers assess the risks posed by devices that can take photographs, record conversations and stream video without those nearby knowing.
The government plans to put the proposal to the Storting “as soon as possible”, with the measure intended to give authorities time to determine which devices should be covered and consider whether permanent regulation is needed.
Torgeir Micaelsen, Norway’s minister of digitalisation and public governance, said the emergence of technology capable of photographing, filming or recording people without their knowledge had raised concerns.
Where Norway’s smart glasses ban could apply
The proposed restrictions could cover locations where privacy is regarded as particularly important, including healthcare facilities and fitness centres with changing rooms and showers.
Officials are also focusing on places where children gather, such as schools, kindergartens, playgrounds and youth clubs. The possible scope could extend further to concerts, sporting events, parks, beaches, museums and shopping centres.
The government stressed that it was not seeking a blanket ban on AI glasses or other wearable technology. Use would still be permitted in some settings and for private purposes.
Norwegian authorities are also considering exemptions for vulnerable groups, allowing socially beneficial uses of smart glasses in certain circumstances.
The proposal comes amid wider concern over technologies that are changing how people live and interact in public. In California, the governor last week vetoed legislation that would have penalised recording people without their permission in places including changing rooms and doctors’ offices.
Microsoft also announced last month that it planned to introduce safeguards and privacy standards for its AI in schools, following negotiations with the second-largest teachers’ union in the United States.
