Norway is currently exploring legislation to ban wearable smart glasses equipped with cameras, a move driven by growing concerns about privacy and consent. The initiative, led by Digital Minister Karianne Tung, targets devices produced by companies like Meta and Snap that integrate cameras, connectivity, and potentially facial recognition technologies. These products have stirred controversy and earned nicknames such as “pervert glasses” due to fears they enable covert recording and surveillance in public spaces without permission.

The Norwegian government’s stance reflects unease about a broader trend where everyday items like glasses, headphones, and hats are being embedded with AI-powered cameras and microphones. Tung emphasized the need to curb the use of such technology to prevent covert monitoring of individuals in public settings and to protect basic privacy rights. The potential ban may extend to prohibiting facial recognition applications in public venues, which raises additional ethical and security questions.

To support the legislative process, Norway plans to assemble a panel of experts tasked with advising the government on how best to regulate these emerging technologies. The objective is to balance innovation with the protection of citizen privacy, anticipating the rapid deployment of increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled wearables. This effort marks a significant attempt by a European country to create clear boundaries around the use and deployment of such devices before they become widely normalized.

This regulatory contemplation comes as major tech companies push aggressively into the augmented reality and wearable markets, exemplified by Meta’s development of AR glasses and their announced features. While these devices promise new forms of digital interaction, their combination of covert cameras and AI has alarmed privacy advocates and generated consumer backlash. Norway’s approach may set a precedent for other nations grappling with the privacy implications of next-generation wearable technology.