Norway’s government has announced plans to propose a temporary ban on the use of artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled smart glasses in selected public places amid growing concerns about privacy and unauthorized recording. The move marks the first major national attempt to regulate the increasingly popular wearable technology, which includes devices capable of filming, photographing, and recording audio discreetly.
Digitalisation and Public Governance Minister Torgeir Micaelsen emphasized the risk associated with new technology that allows individuals to be recorded without their knowledge. “We do not want a society where people worry about being recorded without their knowledge, photographed or filmed in places and situations where they are accustomed to not being monitored,” he said.
The proposed restriction would target locations where privacy is particularly important or where children frequently gather. These include parks, beaches, museums, shopping centers, schools, daycare centers, playgrounds, youth clubs, healthcare facilities, gyms with changing rooms, and public events such as concerts and sports matches. The government stressed that private use of AI glasses would not be banned, nor would their use in settings where there is no risk of recording individuals without consent.
Norway’s minority Labour-led government plans to introduce a bill to the Storting, the national parliament, as soon as possible. Alongside the legislation, it will establish an expert group tasked with advising on permanent national regulations regarding wearable AI technologies. The aim is to allow time for thorough assessment and public debate to inform long-term policy, balancing the technology’s benefits with the need to protect individual privacy.
The government is also considering which types of devices would fall under the ban, including distinctions between glasses with cameras, those with AI functionalities, and other body-worn technology capable of recording audio or video. It has indicated interest in potential exceptions for vulnerable groups to permit socially beneficial uses of smart glasses.
The regulation proposal comes amid a broader global conversation about the impact of AI and wearable technology on privacy. Some institutions and companies in Norway have already implemented their own restrictions; for example, schools in Oslo and the energy company Equinor have banned smart glasses in their premises. Similarly, other countries have introduced partial bans, such as in courtrooms or private establishments, though not all jurisdictions have moved to legislate. For instance, a bill seeking to restrict smart glasses in California was recently vetoed by the governor.
Major manufacturers such as Meta, which sells AI-enabled glasses under the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands, have argued that safety measures like tamper-proof LED recording indicators help address privacy concerns. Still, the widespread availability of such devices and their ability to record surreptitiously have fueled unease, prompting governments to consider how best to regulate their use in public spaces.