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Norway Plans Temporary Smart-Glass Camera Ban in Public

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 12:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Norway Bans Smart Glasses

Norway's government plans a temporary ban on camera-equipped smart glasses in many public spaces.
The ban would cover parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres, schools, daycares, healthcare facilities, gyms and events.
Minister of Digital Affairs Torgeir Micaelsen warned that people could be recorded without knowing it.
Norway will submit the bill soon and create an expert panel for permanent rules.

Summary

Meta Defends Safeguards

Meta spokesperson defended the glasses’ safeguards, citing a recording indicator light and automatic camera shutdown when blocked.
Privacy International praised Norway’s move, saying it shields people from increasingly intrusive data collection.
Minister Micaelsen cited the forthcoming EU AI Act and noted current privacy laws already cover some smart-glass uses.
The draft legislation includes exemptions for vulnerable groups.
Meta is donating 15,000 glasses to blind Irish adults.

History

Historical Context

Norway’s Minister of Digital Affairs Torgeir Micaelsen is proposing a temporary ban on Meta’s camera-equipped smart glasses, echoing earlier privacy pushbacks against wearable tech. The debate follows a decade of high-profile data controversies, from Google’s 2020 FBI geofence warrant and its 2024 $270 million French fine for undisclosed AI training data to the 2013 PRISM revelations involving Google.

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Norway Bans Smart Glasses

Norway's government plans a temporary ban on camera-equipped smart glasses in many public spaces.
The ban would cover parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres, schools, daycares, healthcare facilities, gyms and events.
Minister of Digital Affairs Torgeir Micaelsen warned that people could be recorded without knowing it.
Norway will submit the bill soon and create an expert panel for permanent rules.

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