Norway Moves to Restrict AI Glasses Over Privacy Concerns
AI-powered glasses are becoming one of the most closely watched forms of wearable technology. They can look like ordinary eyewear while carrying cameras, microphones and AI-powered features that can recognise, record, process and respond to information around the wearer. Now Norway wants to put a temporary limit on where such devices can be used. The Norwegian government announced on October 5, 2026 that it plans to propose a temporary ban on AI glasses in selected locations, arguing that people should not have to worry about being photographed, filmed or recorded without knowing it. The government also plans to establish an expert group to examine longer-term regulation of wearable technology. Importantly, this is not a total ban on AI glasses. The government says private use and use in situations where other people are not at risk of being recorded without consent should remain possible.
Why Is Norway Concerned About AI Glasses?
The privacy problem is relatively simple to understand. A person wearing conventional glasses is easy to identify as someone who is simply looking around. But smart glasses can contain cameras and microphones capable of capturing images, video or sound while the device still looks like normal eyewear. That creates a different kind of privacy challenge. Someone standing in a park, shopping centre or other public location may not know that they have appeared in a recording. The same concern becomes more serious in places such as medical facilities, gyms or locations where children spend time. Norway's Digitalisation and Public Governance Minister Torgeir Micaelsen said the government was concerned about powerful new technology being introduced in circumstances where people could be photographed, filmed or audio-recorded without their knowledge.
Where Could the Temporary Ban Apply?
The exact scope has not yet been finalised. According to the Norwegian government, possible locations include parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres and public events. The proposal could also cover schools, kindergartens, playgrounds and youth clubs because of concerns about protecting children. The government is also considering locations where privacy expectations are particularly high, including healthcare facilities, swimming pools, gyms and places with changing rooms and showers.
Universities, colleges and other educational institutions could also be considered under the proposed rules. That means the final legislation could be broader than simply banning cameras inside smart glasses. Norwegian authorities are still examining exactly which types of technology should fall under the rules.
It May Not Be Only About AI Glasses
One interesting part of Norway's proposal is that authorities are still deciding what technology should be covered. The government says it will examine whether restrictions should apply only to glasses with cameras and audio recording, glasses that combine cameras with AI functions, or potentially other wearable devices equipped with cameras, microphones and AI capabilities. This matters because wearable technology is expanding beyond glasses. AI-enabled earbuds, cameras and other body-worn devices could eventually create similar privacy questions. Norway's proposed expert review is therefore looking at the wider category of wearable technology rather than focusing only on one product.
Why Is This a Temporary Ban?
Norway is presenting the measure as a pause rather than a permanent rejection of the technology. The government wants to use the temporary period to investigate the risks, determine which devices and situations should be regulated, and hold a broader public discussion before deciding on permanent national rules. An expert group will also be established to advise the government on long-term regulation of wearable technology. In other words, Norway is trying to answer a larger question: How should society regulate devices that can see, hear and process information around people without requiring the wearer to hold up a phone?
What About People Who Need Smart Glasses?
The Norwegian government has also indicated that exceptions could be considered. Some people with disabilities or other specific needs may benefit from smart glasses, including technologies that can provide assistance in everyday situations. Norway says it will consider exemptions for vulnerable groups and socially beneficial uses in limited circumstances. This makes the debate more complicated than simply choosing between technology and privacy. For some users, wearable AI could improve accessibility and independence. For others, the same technology could create concerns about unwanted recording and surveillance.
Norway's Move Comes Amid Wider Privacy Debate
Norway is not the only country or organisation examining the privacy implications of smart glasses. The technology has faced increasing scrutiny internationally as camera-equipped glasses become more common. In the Netherlands, retailer Hans Anders recently suspended sales of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses in the Netherlands and Belgium amid privacy concerns. Norway had already been considering stronger regulation of smart glasses before the latest proposal. In August, the country's digitalisation ministry said it was looking at stricter rules, including the possibility of restricting functions such as facial recognition of other people in public spaces. The latest announcement takes that discussion a step further by proposing temporary restrictions in selected locations.
What Happens Next?
The Norwegian government says it intends to bring a proposal to the Storting, Norway's parliament, as soon as possible. The precise locations, devices and functions covered by the temporary ban will be determined through the legislative process. Until those rules are formally adopted, it is more accurate to describe the measure as a proposed temporary ban, rather than saying Norway has already implemented a nationwide ban on AI glasses.
The bigger issue, however, is likely to continue far beyond Norway. As AI moves from smartphones and computers into glasses, earbuds and other everyday objects, the boundary between useful technology and invisible data collection is becoming increasingly difficult to define. Norway's decision could therefore become an important test case for how governments approach privacy in the age of wearable AI.