Norway is considering a temporary ban on AI glasses in some public spaces as officials weigh privacy risks tied to devices that can photograph, film, or record people without their knowledge.
The government said it will ask parliament, the Storting, to take up the proposal 'as soon as possible.' Torgeir Micaelsen, the Norwegian minister of digitalization and public governance, raised concerns about new technology that could capture audio or images without consent.
Authorities said the restriction could cover places where 'privacy is particularly important,' including healthcare facilities and fitness centers with changing rooms and showers. It could also reach areas where children gather, such as schools, kindergartens, playgrounds, and youth clubs.
The proposal may extend further to public concerts and sporting events, as well as parks, beaches, museums, and shopping centers. Officials said the temporary measure would give them time to study what devices should be covered and to hold an 'informed debate' that could lead to permanent regulation.
The government said it is not proposing a total ban on AI glasses or other 'wearable technology.' It said such devices would still be allowed in some places and for private use. Officials also said they are considering exceptions for vulnerable groups so that 'socially beneficial uses' could be permitted in some cases.
The debate in Norway lands as other governments wrestle with how to police fast-moving wearables that blur the line between consumer convenience and private conduct. California's governor last week vetoed legislation that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to record people without permission in places such as changing rooms and doctor's offices. Microsoft also announced plans last month to adopt guardrails and privacy standards for its AI in schools.
For lawmakers, the issue is bigger than one gadget. It is about where the public square ends and personal privacy begins. Capital rewards clear rules, and technology firms can adapt to them. What users and citizens cannot adapt to is a world where recording happens by default and the burden falls on everyone else to notice.
If Norway moves forward, the state will be signaling that privacy still has value in an age of wearables. That may slow some innovation at the margin, but it also reflects a principle free markets cannot ignore: trust is part of the product.
