No country has banned owning or selling smart glasses. What exists, as of October 7, 2026, is a patchwork: Norway says it will propose a temporary ban at selected places, Australia has been considering a ban in federal government workplaces, and courts, schools and local venues in several places have adopted their own rules. Policy here is changing quickly, so each position below carries its date and status.
Where each jurisdiction stands
| Jurisdiction | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Norway (national) | On October 5, 2026 the government announced it intends to propose a temporary ban on AI glasses at selected places, and to set up an expert group to advise on lasting national regulation. | Announced intention to propose; not in force |
| Norway (Oslo) | Reuters reports Oslo banned smart glasses in schools in August 2026. | Local, school-setting measure |
| Australia (federal) | In September 2026 the government was considering barring camera-equipped glasses in government workplaces. The Public Service Minister sought advice on whether to prohibit them and what exceptions might be needed. | Under consideration; not reported as enacted |
| Australia (local) | The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) reports local-government bans at sensitive places such as pools, playgrounds and gyms. | Venue-specific local policy |
| England and Wales | Reuters reports courts have prohibited Meta smart glasses under existing restrictions on taking images and video in court. | Court-setting restriction |
| New York, US | Reuters reports the New York Unified Court System barred recording-capable eyewear and headwear from court facilities from July 20, 2026. Visitors must hand covered devices to court personnel before entry. | Court-facility rule (scope and date as reported by Reuters) |
| European Union | Reuters says the European Data Protection Board commissioned a report on the “social acceptability” of smart glasses and an MEP urged the Commission to consider action. As of October 6, the Commission had not proposed legislation specifically targeting smart glasses. | Scrutiny and advocacy; no EU-wide ban |
| United Kingdom | A June 30, 2026 Parliament answer says lawful use in public spaces is consistent with freedom-of-expression rights, while harmful recording or sharing can engage existing offences and platform duties. | Existing law, no general ban |
| Singapore | The Ministry of Digital Development and Information answered a parliamentary question on visual-indicator requirements and on collecting biometric or environmental data from nearby non-users without consent. | Questions raised; no new smart-glasses rule shown |
Norway: a proposal, not yet a ban
The Norwegian government’s October 5 announcement is the most prominent development. It describes a temporary, location-specific ban on AI glasses, plus an expert group for longer-term rules. AP reports the government is considering exceptions for socially beneficial uses and is focused on places where privacy matters particularly and where children gather.
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Digitalisation and Public Administration Minister Torgeir Micaelsen framed the concern this way: “Jeg er urolig for at det introduseres ny, kraftig teknologi der folk risikerer å bli fotografert, filmet eller tatt lydopptak av uten at de vet det.” In English translation: “I am concerned that new, powerful technology is being introduced where people risk being photographed, filmed or audio-recorded without their knowledge.”
Why regulators are worried
Covert capture
Glasses with cameras and microphones can record images, video or audio without bystanders noticing. This is the concern Norway’s government and Australia’s Public Service Minister both cited, the latter adding security concerns because the devices can capture information.
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What happens to the data
The debate goes beyond the moment of recording: who receives the footage, who holds it, how it is used, and whether bystanders get notice or control. The OAIC notes that under Australia’s Privacy Act, obligations fall on companies and Commonwealth agencies that hold personal information, not on individuals as such. A hardware seller or maker that does not collect personal information may have no obligations, whereas a software provider that collects and holds it may.
The OAIC has run preliminary inquiries with five hardware or software entities providing smart-glasses products or services. It has opened a formal investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng, provider of the HeyCyan app. As of its October 2026 post, it had not decided to investigate the other entities. An investigation is not a finding of liability. The OAIC also cites a GetUp petition against certain brands with more than 55,000 signatures, which is a petition count rather than a representative measure of opinion.
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Facial recognition
This is the most sensitive strand, and the evidence is about questions rather than launched features. Senator Edward Markey’s March 17, 2026 letter asked Meta about possible facial recognition in smart glasses, including bystander consent, retention, deletion, matching and user controls. The letter does not show such a feature has shipped. Separately, the Texas attorney general announced an investigation into Meta glasses over concerns about privacy representations and facial data; that announcement states concerns and is not a final finding.
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The UK government’s June 30, 2026 answer to a parliamentary question about safeguarding privacy with Meta’s smart glasses and similar technologies in public spaces sets out its position:
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- Using smart glasses in public can be lawful, consistent with freedom of expression.
- Recording people without consent to cause alarm or distress, or for sexual gratification, may amount to offences such as harassment, stalking or voyeurism.
- Sharing intimate images online without consent is criminal.
- People can make UK GDPR removal requests to online services, which have duties over illegal material under the Online Safety Act.
That is the government’s stated position, not a full legal analysis of every recording scenario.
How to read the headlines
- Use versus sale. Venue rules restrict wearing or carrying devices in a place. None of the reported measures bans sale or ownership.
- Proposal versus rule. Norway’s national measure and Australia’s workplace measure are not in force. Court and school rules are.
- Allegation versus finding. Parliamentary questions, letters, preliminary inquiries and formal investigations are not adjudicated outcomes.
- Exceptions. Norway is weighing them; most other measures rely on venue-level policy or existing law.
For wearers, Meta’s own published guidance, as quoted by AP, says: “Respect people’s preferences. Not everyone loves being photographed. Stop recording if anyone expresses that they would rather you not.” That is company guidance, not a regulator’s requirement. In practice, expect to be asked to remove or hand over camera glasses at courts, schools, pools, gyms and, potentially, government offices.
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The Bottom Line
Treat “countries weigh banning smart glasses” as shorthand for targeted, place-based restrictions and proposals, with Norway’s temporary ban the furthest along as a stated plan. Check the date and venue of any rule before assuming it applies, because proposals and investigations are shifting week to week.
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