Google Glass Worries U.S. Government

by Christopher Freeburn | May 19, 2013 9:09 pm

Google Glass[1]Google‘s (GOOG[2]) new high-tech glasses won’t be available to consumers until next year, but some lawmakers are already concerned that they may violate other people’s privacy[3].

This week, Google CEO Larry Page received a letter from the Bi-Partisan Congressional Privacy Caucus. In the letter, lawmakers inquired as to how the company planned to ensure the privacy of both users and people who find themselves in Google Glass’ line of sight, eWeek noted.

Featuring a camera and built in video screen, Google Glass allows users to record images and videos. Data about their surroundings, and potentially about people they meet, can be displayed on the screen. Some reports indicate that the glasses with feature facial recognition technology, allowing users to identify people they encounter. Lawmakers asked Page how data linked to facial recognition would be collected and what protections would be enacted to protect individual privacy.

Members of the caucus pointed out that Google has been criticized for infringing on users’ privacy in the past. Last year, the company paid $22.5 million to settle claims it improperly tracked web browser activity[4].

Though Google had previously signaled that the glasses might be available by the end of this year, in April, the company’s chairman said they were still being tested by developers and wouldn’t hit the consumer market until early 2014[5].

Shares of Google closed up fractionally on Friday.

Endnotes:

  1. [Image]: https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Google-Glass.jpg
  2. GOOG: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=GOOG
  3. concerned that they may violate other people’s privacy: //www.eweek.com/security/congress-demands-answers-about-google-glass/
  4. improperly tracked web browser activity: https://investorplace.com/2012/08/google-to-pay-record-fine-in-privacy-case/
  5. wouldn’t hit the consumer market until early 2014: https://investorplace.com/2013/04/consumers-must-wait-til-2014-to-buy-google-glasses/

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/05/google-glass-worries-u-s-government/