Imagine taking a trip to the beach, hanging out in a public park, or finishing a workout at the gym without constantly worrying if someone nearby is secretly filming you. That exact concern is pushing Norway’s center-left government to introduce a bill calling for a temporary ban on camera-equipped smart glasses across key public spaces.
The proposed legislation comes directly from Digitalization Minister Torgeir Micaelsen. He warned that letting people record audio, take photos, or shoot video without bystanders knowing creates an unsafe environment where citizens feel forced to withdraw from public life.
Where the ban would apply and where exceptions fit
Rather than pushing for a sweeping total ban, Norway is targeting spots where privacy expectations are highest or where children gather. The temporary restriction covers schools, kindergartens, playgrounds, youth clubs, healthcare facilities, and gym changing rooms. However, lawmakers are also looking at broader public areas like beaches, parks, museums, shopping centers, concerts, and sports venues.
Private use at home remains completely allowed. Government officials confirmed that the temporary pause gives an expert panel time to evaluate device categories and draft permanent national regulations. Lawmakers are also building in exceptions for vulnerable groups and socially beneficial uses, ensuring accessibility tools like real-time translation or navigation assistance stay protected (via The Guardian).
Global backlash against wearable cameras increases
Norway’s legal authority’s move comes as part of a wider backlash against popular devices such as Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. To give you some context, Meta has sold over 9 million pairs since early 2023. Private companies and venue owners are taking matters into their own hands. In the UK, cinema associations, pub chains, and restaurant owners have restricted smart glasses over piracy and privacy fears. Over in the Netherlands, eyewear retailer Hans Anders suspended Ray-Ban Meta sales entirely while waiting for regulatory guidance (via AP News).
Finding a unified global approach remains messy. In France, child welfare groups reported multiple incidents of women being filmed without consent using smart glasses for viral social media pranks. Meanwhile, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed legislation that would have penalized covert smart glass recording in private spaces. Meta insists its hardware features, like a blinking front LED light that disables the camera if covered, provide adequate warning, but privacy groups like Privacy International argue that tiny lights aren’t enough to stop unwanted public surveillance.
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