Norway proposes first major government ban on AI glasses in public spaces

Norway has emerged as the first developed nation to pursue legislative curbs on AI-enabled glasses in designated public areas, responding to mounting concerns about unauthorized recording and surveillance.

The Scandinavian nation's center-left administration announced Monday it plans to bring legislation to parliament establishing a temporary moratorium on these wearables in locations including parks, beaches, schools, and early childhood facilities. Policymakers also intend to establish a task force tasked with developing longer-term regulatory frameworks.

Privacy tensions with emerging wearable tech#

Digitalization Minister Torgeir Micaelsen framed the measure as a precautionary step: "I am concerned about the introduction of powerful new technology where people risk being photographed, filmed, or recorded without their knowledge." The temporary restriction, he explained, would allow authorities to evaluate risks comprehensively and engage the public in shaping durable safeguards.

Regulators globally are struggling to develop coherent approaches to AI eyewear—particularly devices from tech giants like Meta alongside cheaper alternatives—as worries intensify over covert documentation of unsuspecting individuals, including minors and women in private settings such as fitting rooms and locker areas.

Private sector and communities already moving#

The policy proposal follows earlier protective measures taken by segments of Norwegian society. Educational institutions in Oslo and Equinor, Norway's largest corporation and a petroleum sector leader, have each independently instituted their own prohibitions on the devices in workplaces, school grounds, and drilling installations.