With technology becoming ever more prominent in our lives, Google is working on yet another gadget that could become the next big thing. Google is expected to launch their new Google glasses sometime this year. These glasses "will project information, entertainment and, this being a Google product, advertisements onto the lenses." The glasses will feature many of the same functions as smart phones do, such as a camera, GPS and audio inputs and outputs.
However, what makes the glasses slightly more controversial is its facial recognition feature. Though it will be useful in playing virtual games, it raises the question of privacy issues. Theoretically, the glasses could match a complete stranger up with shared friends and other social networks.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to "to suspend the use of facial recognition software until the government could come up with adequate safeguards and privacy standards to protect citizens." However, this brings Google's new privacy policy into mind. If the government will allow Google to change its privacy policy and allow users to be more susceptible to fraud and identity theft, who's to say that it'll do anything about facial recognition in glasses?
Furthermore, the government will not be able to regulate any of the content seen on the glasses. Mr. William Brinkman says "it’s also going to change real-world advertising, where companies can virtually place ads over other people’s ads." If the government has absolutely no control over what occurs behind the lenses, how will the media be held accountable for any claims it may make?
What are your thoughts on these new Google goggles? How will it affect user privacy? Will the media change?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
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3 comments:
Whoa! These Google Goggles seem cool and futuristic! A bit scary! In regards to the privacy issues, being unable to regulate the content seen or what appears on the glasses just seems unsafe.
I personally don't think that the facial recognition feature is that invasive. It essentially has the same feature as Facebook in regards to finding mutual friends.
Also, I'm pretty sure that the government will end up regulating these glasses in some shape or form, especially because Google is such a huge company. If the government didn't regulate it, they would be seen as the weaker one of the two. They definitely would not want citizens and other countries to think that they do not have the upper hand in dealing with corporations.
Considering how easy it is to get pictures of people already, and the government already has an ability to use facial recognition, there should not be a problem for Google to use it. And technology will eventually move in the direction with more integration, so this is a good step for technology.
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