Norway’s centre-left cabinet announced plans to introduce legislation that would impose a short-term prohibition on AI-enabled glasses in public venues such as parks, beaches, schools and kindergartens. The proposal will be tabled in parliament within weeks, and an expert committee will be tasked with drafting lasting national regulations. Officials say the interim measure creates space for a thorough impact assessment before permanent rules are set.
"I am concerned about the introduction of powerful new technology where people risk being photographed, filmed, or recorded without their knowledge," digitalisation minister Torgeir Micaelsen said. He added that a temporary ban would allow authorities to conduct a detailed review and foster an informed public debate that could underpin enduring legislation. The minister emphasized the need to protect citizens from covert audio and visual capture in everyday settings.
Local institutions have already responded. Schools in Oslo have prohibited the devices, and Equinor, Norway’s largest oil and gas firm, barred them from offices and offshore platforms. Elsewhere, Australia is reviewing restrictions on smart glasses in selected public areas, while several jurisdictions have banned their use inside courtrooms as wearable technology becomes more common. These actions illustrate a growing trend of pre-emptive limits on covert recording tools.
The Norwegian proposal stops short of an outright prohibition. Officials argue that smart glasses could be permissible in contexts where no risk of non-consensual filming exists, such as private workplaces with explicit policies. The draft law has been labelled a “high priority” by the cabinet, and lawmakers are expected to present it to parliament imminently. This approach seeks to balance innovation with safeguards against hidden surveillance.
Tech giants such as Meta, Google and OpenAI view wearable devices as the next primary interface for artificial intelligence, arguing that voice-driven interaction will replace screen-based apps. Counterpoint Research projects consumer spending on wearables to exceed $1 trillion between 2026 and 2032, underscoring the market’s rapid growth. Nevertheless, the prospect of devices that can constantly see and hear users fuels worldwide privacy debates and prompts legislators to consider stricter controls.
Privacy advocates have labeled the technology “pervert technology,” reflecting fears that AI glasses could be used to capture images of women and children in sensitive areas such as changing rooms. The term captures public anxiety about hidden audio and visual recording in spaces traditionally considered private. As governments weigh temporary bans and longer-term frameworks, the controversy highlights the tension between emerging AI-enhanced wearables and societal expectations of personal privacy.