Norway plans to tighten regulations on smart glasses and may ban facial recognition in public areas, focusing on consumer privacy.
Norway's New Regulatory Approach
Norway is moving towards imposing stricter regulations on smart glasses, with Digitalisation Minister Karianne Tung announcing potential restrictions on facial recognition technology in public spaces. This initiative aims to address privacy concerns associated with the increasing use of AI in devices that incorporate cameras and microphones.
To spearhead these efforts, Tung plans to establish an expert group dedicated to privacy issues, encouraging organizations to formulate interim guidelines as official regulations are developed. The timeline for these initiatives has yet to be revealed.
The Norwegian Consumer Council has advocated for a halt in smart glasses sales until clearer legal frameworks are established. Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, the council's digital policy leader, commended the government's initiative but stressed the need for retailers to stop selling these devices amid regulatory uncertainty.
Growing Privacy Concerns
Recent incidents have raised alarms about the misuse of smart glasses. A January report by the BBC highlighted cases where women were secretly filmed with Ray-Ban Meta glasses, with footage subsequently shared on social media. Additionally, there were troubling reports from Sweden about contractors reviewing sensitive recordings for AI training purposes.
In response to these concerns, the ACLU and 75 other organizations called on Meta to abandon its facial recognition plans for smart glasses, citing serious ethical implications. Following these developments, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into Meta's practices, leading to the implementation of a patch to prevent users from bypassing recording indicators.
Norway's potential legislation would place it among the first countries to specifically regulate smart glasses. However, the ministry has not confirmed when the expert group will commence its work or when a legislative proposal will be introduced.
