Norway Plans a Temporary Ban on AI Glasses in Public Places

Will Norway ban AI glasses in public places?

Not yet. On 5 October 2026, Norway's government said it will propose a temporary ban on using AI glasses in selected public places. The proposal still has to pass through parliament, the Storting. The government will take it there “as soon as possible,” according to the Associated Press.

Which places would the ban cover?

The reports name three kinds of places. Reuters, as published by The Star, and the AP report give slightly different lists, so the list below combines both:

• Public spaces: parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres and public events.
• Child-focused places: schools, kindergartens, playgrounds and youth clubs.
• Privacy-sensitive places: healthcare facilities, doctors’ offices, swimming pools and gyms with changing rooms or showers.

AP says the ban “could apply” to privacy-sensitive places, which means the list is a proposal rather than a settled rule. The reports do not say which devices the ban would cover.

Why is the government concerned?

Digitalisation minister Torgeir Micaelsen said he is worried. “I am worried that new, powerful technology is being introduced where people risk being photographed, filmed or audio-recorded without knowing it,” he said, according to Reuters.

Adam Smith of Privacy International, quoted by AP, put the same concern more bluntly: “No reality exists in which people expect to be secretly surveilled going about their daily lives.”

Is this a total ban?

No. The government said it was “not proposing a total ban.” Such devices should still be allowed in some places and for private use, according to AP.

Are other venues already restricting smart glasses?

Yes, through venue policies rather than national law. In August 2026, the UKCA Cinema Association announced plans to “prohibit or restrict their use in its members’ venues,” citing privacy and film piracy. That applies to cinemas that are members of the association, not to the whole country. Advanced Television reports that many venues are introducing policies to restrict camera-enabled smart glasses.

What does the EU privacy board say?

According to PPC Land, the European Data Protection Board adopted a statement on 13 October 2026. It places the duty to inform bystanders on the companies that build the devices, not on the people wearing them. It also says that getting consent from people who are recorded would be hard to obtain. The reports do not connect this statement to Norway’s proposal.

What is still unknown?

• The bill text. The reports describe the bill as something the government will send to parliament, and none of them quote its wording.
• Timing and penalties. AP says its article gives no fine amounts, penalties or effective dates.
• Devices. The reports do not say which glasses or other technologies would be covered.
• Permanent rules. According to Reuters, the government will also set up an expert group to advise on permanent national rules for body-worn technology.

What should readers watch next?

If you own AI glasses, check the rules at a venue before you record inside it, since some cinemas and gyms already restrict them. The next fact to watch is the bill itself, once it reaches the Storting.