Norway is proposing temporary restrictions on camera-equipped eyewear in public spaces, as cinemas, courts and regulators worldwide tighten controls over covert recording and personal data.
Several governments and public bodies are moving to curb smart glasses as privacy concerns intensify, with Norway among the latest to propose temporary limits on the devices in public spaces. According to The Guardian, the Norwegian government wants to restrict smart glasses in places such as parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres and public events, amid worries that people could be photographed or recorded without knowing it. Private use would still be allowed, and the plan is expected to be followed by permanent legislation drafted with expert input.
The debate is not confined to Norway. In Britain, the UK Cinema Association said in August that many cinema operators are either banning or tightly limiting camera-equipped smart glasses because of concerns about privacy and film piracy. The association acknowledged that the devices can be useful for people with access needs, but said venue policies must balance that benefit against the risk of covert recording.
Courts are also tightening their rules. In England and Wales, Meta’s glasses have already been barred in court buildings because photography and video recording are not permitted in those settings. In New York, the state’s unified court system introduced a wider ban from 20 July 2026, covering not only smart glasses but also prescription frames that can record audio or video. Visitors must hand them over before entering, and the notice advises those who rely on corrective lenses to bring a spare pair.
Regulators are also turning their attention to the software behind the devices. Australia’s Office of the Australian Information Commissioner opened a formal investigation on 7 October into Shenzhen Qingcheng, the maker of the HeyCyan app used with low-cost smart glasses sold through brands such as Anko at Kmart. The regulator has said it wants clarity on how the app records, who can access the data and where it may be stored. The investigation does not imply wrongdoing, but it shows how privacy scrutiny is extending beyond the hardware itself.
In Europe, the regulatory picture is becoming more detailed. On 13 October, the Committee of European Data Protection Authorities said that using smart glasses to post images publicly or for professional purposes may make the wearer a data controller under the GDPR. It also said the rules may not apply to purely personal or household use, such as a parent filming a child, but warned that civil, criminal and employment law may still be relevant. The committee added that manufacturers and service providers remain bound by their own obligations and cannot shift responsibility on to users, while clearer notices that recording is taking place may be required.
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