Norway Considers Ban on Facial Recognition in Smart Glasses
Norway's government plans stricter regulations on camera-equipped smart glasses, proposing a public ban on facial recognition to combat privacy violations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Norway's government plans stricter regulations for camera-equipped smart glasses
- Proposing a public ban on facial recognition to prevent snooping and hidden recording
- Australia recommends automatic face blurring and clearer recording indicators for smart glasses
- Study reveals over 60% of smart glass videos on Instagram exhibit harassing behavior
The government of Norway is moving forward to tighten regulations on wearable devices equipped with cameras and microphones, such as smart glasses, amid escalating concerns regarding privacy violations and the covert recording of individuals in public spaces without their consent.
On August 25, Karianne Tung, Norway's Minister of Digital Governance and Public Administration, announced that the government intends to impose stricter oversight on these devices, noting that officials are actively considering a complete ban on the use of facial recognition technology to identify individuals in public areas.
The digital minister further pointed out the growing risk of artificial intelligence being integrated with cameras and microphones embedded in everyday items such as eyewear, headphones, and hats, while emphasizing the critical need to prevent these high-tech devices from being used to spy on citizens in public domains.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, the announcement does not yet constitute binding legislation, as the Norwegian government has not disclosed draft laws, timelines, or specific enforcement guidelines, presenting it merely as a directional framework and a potential example of how stricter rules might look. Tung stated that a committee of experts will be appointed to advise the government on consumer protection, while urging both public and private agencies to establish their own interim guidelines while the formal legislation is being drafted.
Norway's regulatory push highlights the intensifying global pressure facing tech companies manufacturing smart wearables, such as Meta and Snap. The convergence of miniature cameras, AI algorithms, and constant internet connectivity blurs the line between public observation and private surveillance, forcing governments to rethink legal frameworks that were never designed for camera-equipped facial computers worn on the face.
The devices currently under regulatory scrutiny include camera glasses from major technology firms such as Meta and Snap, which connect to the internet and could soon incorporate facial recognition features.
Meanwhile, Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, head of digital policy at the Norwegian Consumer Council, expressed support for the government's move but argued that it does not go far enough. He called for retail stores to pull smart glasses from their shelves until their legal status is fully clarified, pointing out that banning facial recognition alone fails to stop wearers from secretly recording others and leaves ample room for misuse.
Concerns over covert recording are backed by research from the University of Sydney, which analyzed 350 publicly available Instagram video clips from around the world. The study identified a phenomenon known as ambient capture, where men use smart glasses to secretly film women in everyday locations before posting the footage online. The findings showed that roughly 60 percent of the studied clips exhibited harassing behavior, and 43 percent featured women targeted by derogatory comments, with some individuals identified and having their personal information exposed. Nevertheless, the study remains a preprint and has not yet undergone peer review.
In terms of international developments, Australia's eSafety Commissioner issued industry guidelines on August 31, instructing smart glass manufacturers to automatically blur the faces of recorded individuals who have not given consent and to implement clearer recording status indicators, including a recording light that cannot be turned off or obstructed. However, the Australian government clarified that these discussions did not include measures to ban the import of such devices.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
On the hardware manufacturer side, Meta implemented technical safeguards on August 27, 2026, by releasing a software update for Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Meta AI glasses designed to immediately halt recording if the status indicator light is obstructed, closing a loophole where users could start recording before covering the light with a finger or tape.
Source: Thairath Lifestyle
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