Google Will Not Allow Glass Facial Recognition Until Privacy Measures Put in Place

Responding to privacy concerns that have been raised ever since the new devices were released in a limited run, Google has said there will not by any facial-recognition apps for its new Google Glass device. At least right now.

Google recently updated its Glass developers policy, according to the Los Angeles Times, to ban developers from making facial recognition apps for the new high tech glasses. The tech giant explains in the "What you can't do in your application" section: "Don't use the camera or microphone to cross-reference and immediately present personal information identifying anyone other than the user, including use cases such as facial recognition and voice print. Applications that do this will not be approved at this time." This policy will hold until strong privacy protections are put in place.

Right now, Google Glass isn't for sale or released in any way to the general public. In early 2013, Google asked for messages on Google + or Twitter from people who wanted to test out the early version of the smartglasses and be "Glass Explorers." Those people tended to be technology and software developers, as well as technology journalists and other creative individuals who could pay the $1,500 to try out the new gadget.

But even in such a limited run, some members of the public, as well as eight members of Congress, began to speak about their privacy concerns with Google Glass. In a letter to Larry Page last month, eight members of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus wrote of their concerns about facial recognition technology and the privacy intrusion it may pose to the "average American."

Soon after the Glasses were released, some public places, like pubs, began to preemptively ban the wearing of the devices — half as a joke, and half seriously — and a Glass-privacy group called "Stop The Cyborgs" (also a "serious" joke) began some protests and rallying groups.

In recent weeks, MiKandi, a porn app and provider for mobile devices, announced it was developing a porn app for Google Glass, which may be another reason to be creeped out by Google Glass.