Norway Considers Ban on Facial Recognition in Smart Glasses
Norway plans to restrict facial recognition features in public for camera-enabled smart glasses to protect privacy. The government aims to form an expert group before finalizing regulations.
The Norwegian government is developing stricter rules for camera-equipped smart glasses and other artificial-intelligence wearables due to privacy concerns. Digitalisation and Public Governance Minister Karianne Tung stated that these devices, which combine cameras and microphones with AI, create growing pressure on private life. The specific focus is preventing equipment from monitoring or identifying people in public spaces without their awareness.
While the government does not plan a blanket ban on selling or possessing smart glasses, it is considering prohibiting functions that allow face recognition in public. Tung identified this restriction as one option for stronger regulation. To proceed, officials intend to appoint an expert group to recommend how to regulate these devices before developing proposals for consultation.
Currently, no draft legislation, implementation timetable, or final enforcement model has been announced. The initiative remains focused on safeguarding how discreet camera-enabled devices can be used where nearby individuals may be filmed without consent.
