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Norway is moving toward a camera-enabled wearable ban that would target smart glasses and other camera-equipped headsets, a step that could make it one of the first countries to draw a hard regulatory line around the technology. The proposal comes as the government weighs how to handle devices like those sold by Meta and Snap, gadgets that some consumers have started calling “pervert glasses” over fears they enable covert filming in everyday public spaces.
Key takeaways
- Norway is considering banning smart glasses and other camera-enabled wearable headsets, including devices from Meta and Snap.
- The wearables in question are internet-connected, carry built-in cameras, and may soon add facial recognition features.
- Digital Minister Karianne Tung warns of a “clear trend” toward combining AI with cameras and microphones in everyday objects.
- Norway may also ban facial recognition of other people in public places.
- An expert group will be set up to advise the government on strengthening privacy protections.
Norway’s Proposal to Ban Camera-Enabled Wearables
Norway’s government is examining regulation that would restrict or outright prohibit smart glasses and similar camera-enabled wearable headsets, according to Digital Minister Karianne Tung, as quoted by the AFP news agency. The move reflects growing unease among lawmakers about how quickly this category of consumer tech has spread without matching privacy safeguards.
Devices Targeted and Companies Involved
The devices under scrutiny include wearables made by Meta and Snap, both of which have pushed camera-equipped glasses into the mainstream market. These products are internet-connected and built around always-available recording, which is precisely what has triggered alarm among privacy advocates. Civil liberties groups argue the wearables intrude on personal privacy simply by existing in public, since bystanders have no way of knowing when they’re being filmed.
Potential Facial Recognition Ban in Public Spaces
Beyond the hardware itself, officials are also considering a ban on using facial recognition to identify people in public places. Tung said the devices “may soon include facial recognition,” a feature that would let a wearer identify strangers on the street in real time. That capability, layered on top of a camera that’s already recording, is a big part of why the Norway smart glasses regulation effort has gained traction so quickly.
Privacy Concerns and Consumer Backlash
Public frustration with camera-enabled wearables has already produced its own shorthand: some consumers simply call them “pervert glasses.” That nickname captures a real fear driving the backlash, particularly the worry that these devices can be used to secretly film people without consent in changing rooms, on transit, or anywhere else someone might reasonably expect not to be recorded.
Public Opposition and the Term ‘Pervert Glasses’
The backlash isn’t limited to Norway. Commentary elsewhere has pointed to the same underlying issue: wearable cameras normalize the idea that anyone nearby could be filmed at any moment, without a clear signal that recording is happening. That ambiguity is what’s fueling privacy concerns wearables face across multiple markets, not just Scandinavian ones.
Minister Karianne Tung’s Views on AI and Surveillance
Tung framed the issue as bigger than any single product. She pointed to what she called a “clear trend toward combining artificial intelligence with cameras and microphones built into glasses, headphones, hats and other objects we use in everyday life.” In her view, the danger isn’t just one gadget — it’s the pattern of embedding always-on sensors into ordinary items people wear without a second thought.
“We must prevent this equipment from being used to monitor other people in public places,” Tung said, adding that this could mean a facial recognition public ban covering identification of other people while out in public.
Government Actions and Next Steps
Norway’s response won’t stop at a potential ban. Tung plans to convene a dedicated group of experts tasked with advising the government on how to better protect people’s privacy rights as this technology matures. The formation of that advisory body suggests officials expect the regulatory picture to keep shifting as camera-enabled wearables add new features, rather than settling on a single fixed rule.
Expert Group Formation for Privacy Advice
The expert panel’s exact composition and timeline haven’t been detailed, but its mandate points to an underlying reality: regulators are trying to get ahead of a technology that’s evolving faster than existing privacy law can handle. Why does this matter beyond Norway? Because facial recognition and always-on cameras stitched into everyday accessories raise questions that most current privacy frameworks, written before wearable AI existed, simply weren’t built to answer.
For companies like Meta and Snap, a formal camera-enabled wearable ban in even one national market would set a precedent other regulators could watch closely. If Norway moves first, it may not be the last government to draw this line.
FAQ
What devices is Norway considering banning?
Norway is considering banning smart glasses and other camera-enabled wearable headsets, including those made by Meta and Snap.
Why is Norway considering this ban?
The ban is being considered due to privacy concerns, especially regarding built-in cameras, internet connectivity, and potential facial recognition features.
What are ‘pervert glasses’?
Some consumers call certain camera-enabled smart glasses “pervert glasses” because of privacy issues and concerns about covert filming in public.
What steps is the Norwegian government taking to address privacy concerns?
Digital Minister Karianne Tung plans to establish an expert group to advise on strengthening privacy protections, and the government may also ban facial recognition of other people in public places.
Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
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