Norway’s centre-left government announced on Monday that it will introduce legislation to impose a temporary prohibition on AI-enabled smart glasses in a range of public settings. The proposal will be presented to parliament shortly and will be accompanied by an expert panel tasked with drafting permanent national rules. "I am concerned about powerful technology," Digitalisation minister Torgeir Micaelsen said.
The draft ban targets locations such as parks, beaches, schools and kindergartens, giving authorities time for a thorough assessment and public debate before any lasting regulation. Officials stressed that a total prohibition is not intended; they envision permissible use where no risk of non-consensual recording exists. Micaelsen added that a society haunted by hidden audio or video capture would feel unsafe and could lead people to withdraw.
Norwegian institutions have already imposed their own restrictions. Schools in Oslo have barred the devices, and Equinor, the nation’s largest oil and gas company, has prohibited them inside its offices and offshore installations. Beyond Norway, Australia is reviewing a similar ban for certain public venues, while several courtrooms worldwide have enacted prohibitions as wearable technology becomes more common.
Policymakers across the globe are wrestling with how to regulate AI glasses from firms such as Meta and from cheaper imitators, amid fears that they enable covert filming of children, women and other vulnerable groups in settings like changing rooms. Campaigners have labeled the devices “pervert technology,” reflecting deep privacy anxieties that have prompted calls for stricter controls.
US technology companies, including Meta, Google and OpenAI, argue that wearable devices could soon replace smartphones as the primary interface for AI, allowing users to converse naturally without opening apps. Counterpoint Research estimates consumer spending on wearables will exceed $1 trillion between 2026 and 2032, underscoring the market’s growth potential even as privacy concerns intensify.