Norway proposes temporary ban on smart glasses amid privacy fears

Norway's government announced on October 5 that it plans to propose a temporary ban on AI glasses in public places due to privacy concerns. The proposed ban could apply to areas where people regularly gather, such as parks, beaches, museums, shopping centers, and public events, as well as schools, playgrounds, youth clubs, doctors' offices, swimming pools, and gyms with changing rooms. Digitalization and Public Governance Minister Torgeir Micaelsen expressed worry that the technology could be used to photograph or film people without their consent. The government is still determining exactly which devices and locations would be affected but emphasized that private use where others are not at risk of being recorded without consent will remain allowed. This move reflects a broader global concern over smart glasses equipped with cameras, amid increasing ethical and privacy worries around these new technologies marketed by tech giants like Meta.