Norway proposes temporary ban on AI glasses in some public places

In short: Norway’s government plans to temporarily ban AI glasses in certain public places because of privacy concerns.

What happened

Norway said it will soon send a new law to parliament that would temporarily ban AI glasses in selected public places. The list includes parks, beaches, schools, and kindergartens.

AI glasses are smart glasses that can take photos, record video, and sometimes record audio. They can work hands-free, so a person can record what they see without pulling out a phone.

Norway’s digitalisation minister, Torgeir Micaelsen, said he is worried people could be photographed, filmed, or recorded without knowing it. He said the temporary ban would give the country time to study the issue and hold a public debate, before writing permanent rules.

The government said it is not aiming for a total ban. It said some uses may be fine when there is no real risk of recording other people without their consent.

Why it matters

Wearable cameras can change how safe people feel in everyday places. If anyone might be recording, a day at the beach or dropping a child at kindergarten can start to feel like being watched (like having a security camera follow you around, but carried by a stranger).

Norway is not alone. The article notes that some schools in Oslo and Norway’s largest company, Equinor, have already banned these glasses in their spaces, and other countries are considering limits too.

Source: Arstechnica