Privacy Alarm: Norway Prepares Ban on Smart Glasses
· News · Cem Koyluoglu
A stroll in the park. A day at the beach. A workout in the gym. All of them are smart glasses that can take photos, record conversations...
TL;DR Norway is proposing a temporary ban on smart glasses in sensitive public spaces to curb covert surveillance and protect privacy. The measure targets areas such as health facilities, schools, and private rooms, while allowing personal use in socially beneficial contexts. The proposal will be presented to parliament soon and reflects a global trend toward regulating emerging wearable technology.
Key Highlights • The ban focuses on smart glasses in privacy‑sensitive areas like health facilities, schools, and private rooms. • Norway’s proposal is part of a worldwide move to regulate tech that can capture images or audio without consent. • The government stresses the ban is not a blanket prohibition, permitting personal use where it serves social benefits. • The temporary restriction is intended to give authorities time to study the issue and consider permanent regulation.
Norway Proposes Temporary Ban on Smart Glasses in Sensitive Public Spaces
A Norwegian government proposal seeks to temporarily prohibit the use of smart glasses in certain public areas, citing concerns over privacy and the potential for covert surveillance. The proposal will be presented to the Storting, Norway’s parliament, “as soon as possible,” according to the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Administration.
Global Context for Privacy‑Focused Legislation
The move reflects a growing trend among governments to regulate emerging technologies that can capture images, record audio, or stream live video without the knowledge of those being recorded. Some countries have already banned social‑media use for children and teenagers, and the debate over wearable devices has intensified worldwide.
Silicon Valley’s Unsuccessful Effort
Last week, the California governor vetoed a bill that would have penalised the use of smart glasses in private spaces such as changing rooms, doctor’s offices, and other areas traditionally regarded as private. The veto highlighted the difficulty of imposing restrictions in the United States, where the technology is widely available and culturally accepted.
Microsoft’s Initiative in the United States
Microsoft announced last month that it would work with the United Teachers of America, the country’s second‑largest teachers’ union, to establish security boundaries and privacy standards for AI applications in schools. The initiative aims to protect students while allowing educators to benefit from new technologies.
Key Focus Areas for Norway’s Ban
Norwegian officials say the ban would apply in places where privacy is especially important, such as health facilities, changing rooms, and showers in sports clubs. The primary concern is the protection of children in schools, kindergartens, playgrounds, and youth clubs. However, the proposal could extend to parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres, public concerts, and sporting events.
Statements from the Ministry
Torgeir Micaelsen, the Minister of Digitalisation and Public Administration, expressed worry about devices that can photograph, film, or record audio without consent. He said the temporary ban would give authorities time to conduct a deeper examination of the issue, decide which device types should be affected, and foster a “knowledge‑based discussion” that could lead to permanent regulation.
Clarifications on the Scope of the Proposal
The government emphasised that it is not proposing a blanket ban on smart glasses or other wearable technologies. Devices would remain available for personal use and in certain contexts where they can serve socially beneficial purposes. The proposal also allows for exceptions for vulnerable groups, recognising that the technology can have positive applications in some circumstances.