Full Breakdown
Norway Proposes Temporary Ban on AI-Enabled Smart Glasses in Public Spaces
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Planned Temporary Ban
On October 5, 2026 the Norwegian government will submit a bill to temporarily prohibit AI-enabled smart glasses in parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres, public events, schools, kindergartens, playgrounds, youth clubs, health-care facilities, gyms and other locations with changing rooms or showers. Private use and use where by-standers are not at risk of covert recording would remain permitted. The proposal also calls for an expert group to advise on permanent regulation of “body-worn technology.”
Background & Context
Smart glasses that combine cameras, microphones and AI assistants have entered the consumer market in large numbers—Meta’s Ray-Ban collaboration alone has sold at least 9 million pairs since early 2023. Their ability to capture photos, video and audio without a visible handheld device has sparked privacy alarms worldwide. The United Kingdom, the United States and several German states have already imposed venue-specific bans, while California’s governor recently vetoed a broader state-level restriction. In Norway, the issue gained traction after an August 25, 2026 announcement by then-minister Karianne Tung calling for stricter rules on facial-recognition functions in wearables.
Data & Statistics
- 9 million Ray-Ban Meta glasses sold globally since the start of 2023 (Guardian).
- French child-welfare group E-enfance recorded about 20 reports in 2026 of women being filmed without consent, most involving Meta glasses (Guardian).
- Dutch retailer Hans Anders withdrew Meta glasses from its stores in the Netherlands and Belgium after privacy concerns.
Official Statements & Responses
The Ministry clarified that the measure is not a blanket prohibition; private use and applications that do not endanger by-standers will continue to be allowed.
Meta emphasized that each device includes a tamper-proof LED that blinks white whenever recording starts and that the camera disables automatically if the light is covered. A spokesperson said the feature “cannot be turned off” and urged users to respect people’s preferences.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise technological scope of the ban. Some drafts list three possible categories—glasses with camera + audio, glasses with camera + AI, and broader “body-worn technology” that may include microphones or AI without a camera. The government has not yet decided which definition will be applied, leaving uncertainty for manufacturers and retailers.
Timeline
- August 25, 2026 – Minister Karianne Tung announces intention to tighten smart-glass regulations.
- October 5, 2026 (scheduled) – Government to present the temporary-ban bill to the Storting and to appoint an expert advisory panel.
Why It Matters / Impact
The proposal could become a template for other EU members grappling with wearable-camera privacy risks. By focusing regulation on *places* rather than on the devices themselves, the bill sidesteps immediate market bans while signaling that covert recording will be policed more aggressively. It may also pressure manufacturers to improve transparent recording indicators or to develop “privacy-by-design” features for future wearables.
What’s Next
The Ministry has pledged to submit the draft “as soon as possible” and to convene an expert group that will examine technical definitions, exemption criteria for vulnerable users, and alignment with the forthcoming EU AI Act. The advisory work will shape any permanent national regulation and could influence broader European policy on AI-enabled wearables.