Norway plans to propose a temporary ban on the use of AI-powered glasses in selected public places, citing concerns that people could be photographed, filmed or recorded without their knowledge as the technology becomes more widespread.
The proposed restrictions could cover places where the public regularly gathers, including parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres and public events, the government said on Monday. They could also apply to schools, kindergartens, playgrounds and youth clubs, as well as privacy-sensitive locations such as doctors’ offices, swimming pools and gym changing rooms.
“I am worried that new, powerful technology is being introduced where people risk being photographed, filmed or audio-recorded without knowing it,” Digitalisation and Public Governance Minister Torgeir Micaelsen said.
The move would make Norway one of the first countries to seek broad restrictions specifically targeting AI-enabled smart glasses, highlighting growing regulatory concerns around wearable devices that combine cameras, microphones and artificial intelligence.
The global market for smart glasses is expanding rapidly. Meta Platforms and EssilorLuxottica sold more than 7 million Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses in 2025, according to EssilorLuxottica data, compared with about 2 million units sold between the 2023 launch and early 2025.
Norway’s population was about 5.64 million in the second quarter of 2026, according to Statistics Norway.
The government said it was not considering a total ban. Private use would remain permitted, as would use in circumstances where other people are not at risk of being recorded without their consent.
It will examine which technologies should fall under the restrictions, including glasses with cameras and audio recording, glasses combining cameras with AI functions and potentially other body-worn devices capable of recording images or sound or using AI.
The proposal comes as European regulators are tightening rules around AI and privacy. The European Union’s AI Act transparency requirements took effect in August 2026, requiring certain AI systems to provide information when people interact with AI or are exposed to AI-generated content. The EU also prohibits several AI practices considered to pose unacceptable risks to fundamental rights, including certain forms of biometric categorisation and emotion recognition.
Privacy concerns around Meta’s smart glasses have also reached the European Parliament. A parliamentary question submitted in March cited reports alleging that the glasses could capture private and sensitive information without the knowledge or consent of people recorded, raising questions over compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
Norway’s minority government said it would submit the bill to parliament as soon as possible. It will also establish an expert group to advise on permanent national rules governing body-worn technology.
The government said the temporary restrictions are intended to give authorities time to investigate the technology and develop a longer-term regulatory framework.
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