Norway Weighs Smart Glasses Ban Over Privacy Concerns

Travelers heading to Norway could eventually see new limits on one increasingly popular gadget: AI-enabled smart glasses. The Norwegian government said it plans to propose a temporary ban on the use of such devices in selected public spaces, citing concerns that people may be photographed or recorded without knowing it.

According to a press release from Norway’s Ministry of Digitalization and Public Governance, the possible restrictions could affect places commonly visited by both tourists and residents. Areas under consideration include beaches, parks, museums, shopping centers and public events. Officials said the goal is not to outlaw the technology entirely, but to prevent situations in which wearable devices could quietly capture audio, video or images in settings where people do not expect to be monitored.

Smart glasses can include built-in cameras and microphones, making it possible to record surroundings in a less noticeable way than with a phone or traditional camera. That is at the center of the government’s concern. Norwegian officials said the technology may make it easier for people to be recorded without realizing it.

Torgeir Micaelssen, Norway’s minister of Digitalization and Public Administration, said authorities do not want people to feel uneasy about hidden recording in everyday spaces. In the government’s view, public comfort and personal privacy could be undermined if wearable devices become common in places where individuals are used to moving about without feeling watched.

Proposal Still Under Review

The restrictions are not yet in force. The government said it intends to bring legislation before the Storting, Norway’s parliament, as soon as possible. However, several details remain unresolved, including exactly which devices would be covered and whether the rules would apply only to AI-enabled glasses or also to other wearable technology capable of recording.

Officials also have not finalized the full list of locations that would be subject to the proposed ban. That means travelers do not currently face new legal limits, but they may want to watch for updates if they plan to bring smart glasses to Norway in the future.

The government emphasized that it is not seeking a blanket ban on smart glasses. Under the proposal, the devices could still be used in private and in situations where there is no meaningful risk that others would be recorded without their consent.

Part of a Wider Debate

Norway’s move comes as privacy concerns tied to wearable recording technology continue to surface elsewhere, including in the United States. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill that would have penalized people for using smart glasses to record others without permission in places such as changing rooms and doctors’ offices, according to The Associated Press.

That California proposal also would have required smart glasses and other wearable recording devices, starting in 2028, to include a light or another signal showing when audio or video was being captured. Newsom said the bill defined wearable recording devices too broadly. He also pointed to existing California laws that already ban recording people without permission in places where privacy is generally expected, the AP reported.

Under the proposed California legislation, a person who secretly recorded someone in covered situations could have faced fines of up to $1,500 or possible jail time. Companies selling devices that did not meet the proposed requirements could have faced fines of up to $2,500.

For now, Norway’s proposal remains at the legislative stage. But if approved, it could become an important test case in how governments balance new consumer technology with public expectations around privacy.