Norway is poised to propose a temporary ban on AI-enabled smart glasses in public spaces frequented by tourists, including beaches, parks, museums, shopping centers, and event venues, as the government grapples with escalating privacy fears. Citing concerns that the devices’ cameras and microphones could enable surreptitious recording without individuals’ awareness or consent, Torgeir Micaelssen, Norway’s Minister of Digitalization and Public Administration, stated, “We do not want a society where people are concerned about hidden sound recordings, photography and filming in places and in situations where they are used to being without being monitored.” While not aiming for a complete prohibition, the proposed legislation, which will be presented to Norway’s parliament, the Storting, seeks to prevent the use of such technology in environments where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The scope of the ban, including whether it will extend to all wearable recording devices or specifically AI-enabled glasses, is still under review. This move mirrors ongoing debates in the United States, where California Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill that would have imposed penalties for using smart glasses to record others without permission in sensitive locations and mandated visible indicators for recording devices, highlighting a growing global unease over the potential for ubiquitous surveillance enabled by wearable technology.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
