Norway issues temporary ban: Meta and other camera glasses cannot be used in public places

Abstract:

On October 6, according to "Business Insider", if you plan to wear Meta Ray-Ban glasses to photograph the magnificent Norwegian fjords, you may be disappointed. Norway is temporarily

banning the use of glasses with cameras in public places such as parks, schools and beaches

.

Meta Ray-Ban glasses

This ban does not

prohibit sales

Meta glasses, only

restrict their use to specific areas such as locker rooms or beaches

. It also demonstrates the need for additional privacy protections in places where children play, such as schools and daycares.

Norway’s Digital Minister Torgeir Micaelsen expressed concern about new powerful technologies, believing that they are being introduced into some places where people may be photographed, videotaped or audio-recorded without their knowledge.

Mikaelson only took office as Digital Minister in September this year, but his predecessor had already begun to propose the idea of ​​studying the regulation of Meta glasses in August.

The Norwegian government also said it would set up an expert group to investigate the challenges posed by wearable technology and provide recommendations on permanent regulation.

Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth has said that only a few "bad actors" will manage to turn off the LED indicators on the glasses, which has given the glasses a bad reputation as "candid glasses." Meta recently rolled out a software update that prevents the camera from working if the light is blocked or damaged.

Norway’s temporary ban comes after other European countries were already uneasy about smart glasses with cameras

. Over the past few weeks, reports in the Dutch media and concerns expressed by advocacy groups have fueled discussions around smart glasses in the country. A Dutch data privacy agency official told parliament they wanted to wait for the findings of a wider EU report on the issue before taking any action. At the same time, Hans Anders, a large eyewear retailer in the Netherlands and Belgium, has suspended the sale of Meta smart glasses in its stores.

In response to the Norwegian ban, a Meta spokesperson said in response to Business Insider: "We are pleased that our glasses continue to be popular for listening to music, making phone calls, or getting real-time translations, so we will continue to expand styles and features around the world. Each pair of camera glasses has a bright indicator light on the front that flashes when taking a photo or video, and it cannot be turned off. If someone blocks or breaks it, the camera will be disabled, a feature not available on smartphones and other cameras."

As of press time, Mikaelson's representatives have not commented.