A trip to the park. A day at the beach. A training session in the gym. All in public spaces where smart glasses can take photos, record conversations or stream videos online, without the people in line for their glasses and microphones knowing. Norway’s government wants to rein in both the promises and dangers of AI glasses, and is proposing that parliament enact a temporary ban on them in some places. It is the latest sign of growing concern in many countries about new technologies that are fundamentally changing the way people live. Some governments have banned the use of social media by children and adolescents. An attempt to curb the use of AI glasses has failed… in Silicon Valley. Last week, California’s governor vetoed legislation that would have criminalized the use of smart glasses to record people without their permission in places like locker rooms, doctors’ offices and other spaces that people generally consider private. And Microsoft last month announced plans to adopt guardrails and privacy standards for its AI in schools, as negotiated with the second-largest teachers union in the United States. Norway’s government said the proposal for the temporary ban would be presented to parliament, the Storting, “as soon as possible.” Micaelsen, Norwegian minister of digitization and public governance, expressed concern about the emergence of new technology that could photograph, film or record audio of people without their knowledge. A key question is where to draw the line: Norwegian authorities say the ban on smart glasses could apply to places where “privacy is particularly important,” such as health centers or gyms with changing rooms and showers. An important focus is on spaces where children congregate, such as schools, daycares, playgrounds and youth clubs. But it could also extend to public concerts and sporting events, as well as parks, beaches, museums and shopping malls. The temporary ban would give authorities time to further investigate the matter, decide what types of devices could be affected and have an “informed debate” that could lead to permanent regulation, Micaelsen said. The government was quick to point out that it was not proposing an outright ban on AI glasses or other “wearable technology”, adding that such devices should still be allowed in some places and for private use. The government also said it was considering exceptions to the ban for vulnerable groups, so that “socially beneficial uses” of smart glasses could be allowed in some circumstances.
