Norway Considers Prohibition on Camera-Equipped ‘Pervert Glasses’

Norway is considering a ban on smart glasses and various wearable headsets equipped with cameras, in an effort to regulate this controversial technology due to serious privacy concerns.

According to Karianne Tung, Norway’s digital minister, the government is looking into ways to manage the use of wearable devices that feature cameras, including those made by Meta and Snap. These internet-connected gadgets may soon integrate facial recognition technology, which has sparked worries among civil liberties advocates who claim these devices infringe on personal privacy. Critics have referred to them as “pervert glasses,” leading to significant public outcry.

Tung pointed out a “clear trend towards the integration of artificial intelligence with cameras and microphones embedded in glasses, headphones, hats, and other everyday items.”

“We need to implement safeguards to prevent this technology from being utilized for the surveillance of individuals in public areas,” Tung underscored, suggesting that this could entail banning facial recognition of individuals in such environments.

Tung aims to establish a committee of experts to assist the government in enhancing the protection of citizens’ privacy rights.