Norway Plans a Temporary Ban on AI Glasses in Selected Public Places

Norway's government said on October 5, 2026 that it plans to propose a temporary ban on AI glasses in selected places. Digitalisation and Public Governance Minister Torgeir Micaelsen said he is worried about a powerful new technology. He said people risk being photographed, filmed or audio-recorded without knowing it. The government said it would present a bill to parliament as soon as possible, Reuters reported. The plan is not a total ban, and it is not yet law.

The AI glasses at issue look like ordinary eyeglasses but carry a camera, a microphone and AI features. An earlier explainer covers how they work and what they cost.

Where would the ban apply?

The government named three kinds of places where the ban could apply, according to Reuters and the Associated Press:

• Public places: parks, beaches, museums, shopping centers and public events.
• Places for children: schools, kindergartens, playgrounds and youth clubs.
• Places where privacy matters most: healthcare facilities, swimming pools, and gyms with changing rooms and showers.

The government will also consider whether to include universities and colleges, the Norwegian news agency NTB reported.

The government said private use would still be allowed. So would use where other people are not at risk of being filmed without consent. The ministry also said exceptions would be possible for vulnerable groups and for limited uses that benefit society, NTB reported.

Which devices would be covered?

That is not settled. The government said it would examine which technology the ban should cover. Reuters listed the options:

• glasses with a camera and audio recording
• glasses with a camera and AI functions
• other body-worn technology with a camera, audio recording or AI

The answer matters for products now reaching stores. On September 23, Meta announced Ray-Ban Meta Audio, which it called its first audio glasses. Meta said they ship on October 13. Research firm IDC describes the model as having no camera. Trade publication Road to VR noted that it is not clear whether the planned permanent rules would include audio-only glasses.

Why is Norway acting now?

Micaelsen took over the ministry about four weeks before the announcement, NTB reported. His predecessor, Karianne Tung, left the government in September. She wanted stricter rules but not a ban, according to NTB.

Tung had taken a first step in August. She said she would set up an expert group to advise on regulating new technology such as smart glasses. Norway's data protection authority, Datatilsynet, welcomed that move on August 25. Its director, Line Coll, said people act differently when they never know if they are being filmed or analyzed. She said public space becomes less free.

Datatilsynet had already asked parliament in the summer to consider stopping sales until rules are in place, according to NTB.

The proposal would go further than the rules in force today. Datatilsynet guidance published on July 1, 2026 says the same rules apply to smart glasses as to phone cameras. A private person may generally film on a main street or in a park for purely personal use. The guidance asks wearers to switch the glasses off and put them away on beaches and in changing rooms.

Others in Norway have already moved:

• Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun has asked all municipalities to ban AI glasses in schools, NTB reported.
• Oslo has decided to ban camera glasses in its schools, according to AFP.
• Several companies have set their own bans. DNB fears the glasses could capture customer information or confidential conversations, NTB reported.

What does Meta say?

Meta is the largest seller. IDC estimates that it held 68.7% of the market for XR (extended reality) glasses and headsets in the second quarter of 2026.

Meta says every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when a photo or video is taken. The light cannot be turned off, a Meta spokesperson said in a Reuters report in early October. The camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with the light, the spokesperson said. The reports cited here carry Meta's general statements. They do not include a response to Norway's plan.

Is this happening elsewhere?

Yes, in pieces.

• Netherlands and Belgium: On October 2, the Dutch eyewear chain Hans Anders said it had suspended sales of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses in both countries. Reuters called it one of the first such moves by a retailer.
• New York: The state court system said smart glasses would be barred from all its court buildings starting July 20, 2026, syracuse.com reported.
• California: The governor vetoed a bill in the week before Norway's announcement, the Associated Press reported. It would have penalized using smart glasses to record people without permission in private spaces.

What is still unknown?

The bill itself is still to come. Road to VR noted on October 7 that it must still be introduced and approved by parliament. The reports on the announcement give no start date, no end date and no penalties. The list of devices is open.

The bill also needs votes. The Labour Party leads a minority government and needs support from other parties to pass the ban, AFP reported. Some parties have already called for action. NTB reported that the Socialist Left Party (SV) wants sales stopped until rules are in place. It reported that the Centre Party wants a ban around children.

The ban is meant to be temporary. The government said it would set up an expert group to advise on permanent national rules for body-worn technology. Work to set up that group is under way, NTB reported on October 5. In its October 5 announcement, the government gave no date for the bill beyond "as soon as possible."