Norway has reached a 96% to 98% market share for electric vehicles, becoming the global leader in the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs.
When it comes to smart glasses technology, however, don’t expect 96% of consumers in Norway to be wearing the latest pair.
According to TechCrunch, Norway is considering a ban on smart glasses, specifically for wearables that can take pictures. Regulators cited privacy concerns due to people not being able to give consent to smart-glass users taking pictures of them.
‘Pervert Glasses’
Norway’s digital minister Karianne Tung recently told the AFP news agency that the country is considering regulating camera-enabled smart glasses.
Tung argues the trend is to get items like cameras and microphones built into smart glasses, hats and headphones.
"We must prevent this equipment from being used to monitor other people in public places," Tung said.
Tung said regulation could include the banning of facial recognition by smart glasses in public places.
The report says that the ability to take pictures without consent has led to the label "pervert glasses" for some smart glasses, a term that isn’t exactly winning over consumers.
Why It’s Important
For Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) and Snap Inc (NYSE:SNAP), smart glasses have been among their bigger bets in recent years.
Meta has invested billions of dollars in smart glasses, including having multiple commercials during Super Bowl LX in February. In the commercials, consumers saw people doing action sports and the phrase "hey Meta, record this."
Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to unveil its highly anticipated smart glasses next year, a consumer device that will also be able to take pictures and record video.
While recording sports and first-person views of certain things could benefit consumers, the sharp backlash in Norway shows that widespread consumer adoption may not be ready until regulations and safety procedures are in place.
Some countries are still not ready to welcome EVs. Norway was. But the country appears to have a bit more upfront concern about so-called "pervert glasses."
Photo Courtesy: Mijansk786 on Shutterstock.com
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