Augmented Reality Has a Dark Side Too

One of the technologies that is becoming increasingly popular on mobile phone today is Augmented Reality (AR), this is something that we all know. However, it seems that behind the impressive user experience the technology can deliver, there are some areas that are not as bright and sunny as one might think, but which are somehow overshadowed by the impression AR makes on mobile phone users, and not only.

The use of AR applications has increased lately, mainly due to a boost in the raw power smartphones can deliver, and also helped by an increased interest developers have shown regarding the technology. Those using Google maps on their devices should know already that they can receive an aerial view of their location, so that they can get orientation. Moreover, they can also be pointed towards various business locations or points of interest near them, not to mention that they can activate the street level views with the solution, for a better orientation in the area.

But this is only one example of what AR-enabled applications can offer. With other solutions, users can get various information overlaid on the real-time images captured by the handset's photo snapper. They receive the info from various sources, including Google, Flickr, Panoramio, Twitter, Yahoo, YouTube and more, but most of the info is user generated, for example via geotagging, and offers those new to an area the possibility to easily find their way to a restaurant, POI, or address.

However, it seems that this is not all when it comes to AR and the applications available on mobile phones and which use it. According to a recently published article on The Assurer, while some sources that deliver various information on mobile phones using AR apps can be controlled, there are others that are harder to control, and that becomes a threat when the aim is not the enhancement of a user experience. And that is driven by the fact that pieces of information on a geographical area, on the user's location, on various addresses and the such are exchanged between the handset and the service.

The risks that rise from using AR apps can be categorized at a series of levels, notes The Assurer, mentioning a personal level, where they are extremely high or a business level, where the risks are medium. However, other aspects are also taken into consideration, as the risks that law enforcement agencies can face, or those that involve government intelligence and defense agencies. From this point of view, geotagging a location does not represent a simple entertainment action, but can be seen as similar with marking a target.

“And for government intelligence and defense agencies, the risk is extremely high. The numerous AR spaces (Wikitude, Google Maps, Layar, etc.) must be monitored to ensure that terrorists have not geotagged potential targets. Agencies must take into consideration the existence of geotagged information, and its relationship to other forms of intelligence. And very soon, “AR reconnaissance” may become part of military operations,” The Assurer notes. You can take a look at the entire report here.