Norway Plans Smart-Glasses Restrictions Amid Privacy Concerns
Australia is considering restrictions on smart glasses in some public spaces, while courts in several countries have already banned their use. Norway’s government says it plans to present a high-priority bill targeting filming and recording without consent, amid broader privacy concerns about AI-enabled wearables.
New restrictions could shape how AI wearables are used in public spaces and whether they can become a mainstream alternative to phones.
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Norway has become the first major country to propose a temporary ban on the use of AI glasses in selected public places amid growing privacy concerns over wearable technology.
The rich Scandinavian country’s center-left government said on Monday that it would introduce a law to parliament soon on a temporary ban for places such as parks, beaches, schools, and kindergartens. It will also set up an expert group to propose permanent national rules.
“I am concerned about the introduction of powerful new technology where people risk being photographed, filmed, or recorded without their knowledge,” said Torgeir Micaelsen, Norway’s digitalization minister. A temporary ban “will give us time to conduct a thorough assessment and hold an informed debate that can lay the foundation for permanent regulation,” he said.