14 DAY TRIAL // Privacy concerns regarding the Google Glass project have reached Congress and several members have sent a letter to the Internet giant seeking answers to a range of questions.
The letter is signed by eight members of the bipartisan Privacy Caucus. One of the important questions they ask Larry Page is whether Google plans to use facial recognition technology with Glass, AllThingsD reports.
They are also interested in finding out what proactive steps Google is taking to protect bystanders that don’t wear the Glass and what policy changes Google might make for the device.
The group expects to receive answers by June 14.
So far, Glass has limited abilities, but the final product might come with several extra features. It can take pictures and record videos, get directions and perform searches.
Steve Lee, Glass product director, says that his team takes privacy seriously. “From the beginning, the social implications of glass, of people wearing Glass, has been at the top of our mind,” he confesses.
He also mentions that Glass operated on existing privacy policy in terms of what data it collects.
Also, regarding the bystanders that do not wear the device, Lee says that they can easily see when the device is active since the screen lights up and taking a picture or recording a video requires pressing a button or issuing a voice command.
That being said, no one can be taken by surprise when someone takes a picture of them, unless various apps are developed.
“Winky” has already reached the market and enables users to take pictures by simply winking at the device. However, the lit screen will still be visible to those around you.
The device is about one year away from its mainstream release, Google has said. Until then, the product might suffer several changes in regards to what it can do.