Norway, the global leader in electric vehicle adoption with a market share between 96% and 98%, is considering a ban on smart glasses that are capable of taking pictures. Regulators have expressed concern that the ability to capture images without consent poses a significant privacy risk in public spaces.
Norway's digital minister, Karianne Tung, told the AFP news agency that the country is considering regulating equipment like cameras and microphones built into smart glasses, hats, and headphones. Tung stated that the government must prevent this equipment from being used to monitor other people in public places. Potential regulations could include a ban on facial recognition technology used by smart glasses in public areas.
The article notes that the lack of consent required to take pictures has led to the term "pervert glasses" being used to describe some models. This backlash highlights the challenges companies face in gaining widespread consumer acceptance for wearable recording devices.
The article connects this regulatory scrutiny to the broader market for smart glasses. Meta Platforms has invested billions in the category and featured commercials during Super Bowl LX in February. Apple Inc. is also expected to unveil its highly anticipated smart glasses next year, a device that will reportedly be able to take pictures and record video. The skepticism in Norway suggests that widespread consumer adoption for these devices may be delayed until safety procedures and regulations are established.
