Norway proposes temporary smart-glasses ban in selected public places

Norway’s government has announced plans to submit a temporary ban on the use of smart glasses in selected public places. The measure is not yet in force, and the final bill has not been presented. Its stated purpose is to create interim protection against photographs, video, and audio recordings made without people’s knowledge while the country develops permanent rules for wearable technology.

The Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance said on October 5 that the proposal would be treated as a priority and submitted to the Storting, Norway’s parliament, as soon as possible. The government will also appoint an expert group to assess which devices should be covered, which exemptions are necessary, and how a lasting national framework can balance privacy with legitimate uses.

Where the restriction could apply

The preliminary list is broad, but it is not a final decision. The government names parks, beaches, museums, shopping centers, amusement parks, and sporting, music, and cultural events. Places regularly used by children, including schools, daycare centers, playgrounds, and youth clubs, could also be included. Universities and other educational institutions will be considered as well.

Another group covers settings where expectations of privacy are higher: hospitals, medical offices, swimming facilities, and gyms with changing rooms or showers. The rationale is to reduce situations in which someone can be filmed or recorded without realizing that a camera or microphone is directed at them.

The proposal does not seek to ban sales of smart glasses or prohibit every form of private use. The government’s statement allows for possible exemptions for vulnerable groups and socially beneficial applications. It also remains undecided whether the rule will cover only models combining cameras, microphones, and advanced computing features or a wider category of wearable devices capable of recording their surroundings.

The issue extends beyond a recording light

Smartphones can also be used for discreet recording, but glasses change the relationship between the person capturing material and the people in view. A camera naturally follows the wearer’s gaze, can remain ready for long periods, and does not require the visible act of raising a device. That makes it harder for bystanders to know when recording has started, what area is being captured, or whether the material is being streamed.

Norway’s initiative follows restrictions already adopted in specific settings. Oslo schools banned the devices in August. Courts in England and Wales restrict their use, as does New York State’s court system. Australia is also considering rules for federal government workplaces. These examples do not amount to a uniform international ban: each authority is using different powers to address similar risks.

From an editorial perspective, the Norwegian plan tests a context-based approach. Instead of treating the product as always acceptable or always prohibited, it recognizes that the same device may serve as an accessibility tool in one situation and a means of covert surveillance in another. Its effectiveness will depend on clear definitions, enforceable rules, and exemptions that do not turn temporary protection into an indiscriminate barrier. Until parliament passes legislation, however, the announcement should be understood as a formal government intention, not as a nationwide ban already in effect.