Norway Weighs Public Facial Recognition Ban for Smart Glasses

Smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence, cameras and facial recognition can identify or record people without their clear knowledge or consent, intensifying concerns over surveillance and the handling of biometric data. Norway’s planned intervention underscores a widening regulatory challenge: consumer wearables increasingly combine always-on sensors with AI capabilities that existing privacy rules may not fully address in public spaces.

Norway’s Ministry of Digitalisation said it plans tighter oversight of AI-enabled camera glasses and is considering a ban on facial recognition through such devices in public places. The government will establish an expert panel to develop the regulatory framework. Norway’s Consumer Council has also urged retailers to suspend sales of the products until clearer rules are in place, citing the risk of privacy violations.