Norway’s government has proposed a temporary ban on the use of AI-enabled smart glasses in certain public places, marking the first national effort to broadly restrict these devices amid growing privacy concerns. The centre-left administration aims to introduce the proposal to parliament soon, focusing initially on sensitive locations such as schools, changing rooms, healthcare facilities, and playgrounds.
The decision follows a series of more localized bans and restrictions worldwide, including prohibitions by courts in the UK and US, certain Norwegian schools, and private companies like Equinor. Norway’s digitalisation minister, Torgeir Micaelsen, emphasized the importance of legislative action to prevent repeating past policy mistakes witnessed during the rise of social media by adopting a more proactive regulatory approach. “We must avoid making the same mistake we made 15 years ago with social media, taking no political action,” he said.
AI glasses, promoted by technology companies such as Meta, Huawei, and potentially Apple and Google, offer the ability to capture audio and video from real-world interactions, raising significant privacy issues. Users can record and analyze data in everyday settings, sparking fears about covert surveillance. Reports of inappropriate behavior—including individuals recording others without consent, such as a Danish parliamentarian who admitted to using the glasses to record colleagues—have intensified public unease.
Privacy advocates express particular concern about the potential for misuse in vulnerable environments, including schools and changing rooms, where existing safeguards like indicator lights that signal recording may be overridden or ignored. A survey conducted by France’s data protection authority found that 67% of respondents viewed smart glasses as a threat to privacy.
Norway’s move aligns with broader regulatory efforts. The European Data Protection Board commissioned research to assess the social acceptability of smart glasses and is expected to guide future legislation across the EU. Other countries are also exploring restrictions; Australia has sought recommendations on banning smart glasses in government offices and service centers, and several Australian local councils have already limited their use in public pools and offices. Additionally, Dutch retailer Hans Anders recently removed Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses from its stores citing privacy concerns.
Despite the apprehensions, the technology sector highlights the commercial potential of wearable AI devices. Market analysts predict global spending on such products will exceed $1 trillion by 2032, underscoring their anticipated significance as a platform for AI interaction, potentially surpassing smartphones in everyday use.
Regulation is complicated, as Micaelsen acknowledged, but the Norwegian initiative could prompt the formation of an expert panel to develop permanent guidelines. Legal experts suggest the process may parallel prior EU efforts to harmonize rules around data tracking technologies, which progressed from fragmented national policies to unified standards.
Meanwhile, French privacy regulators have warned that the proliferation of smart glasses could normalize widespread surveillance given their affordability and ubiquity. The ongoing debate highlights a growing tension between technological innovation and safeguarding privacy rights, with governments balancing commercial interests against public concerns about surveillance and personal security.