Activists claim that Google Glass violates people's privacy

Sep 30, 2014 14:42 GMT  ·  By

Another professional group has taken a liking to Google Glass and is currently trying on the device to see if it would fit in their every day jobs – the staff at Edinburgh Airport.

The smart glasses are under trial with airport staff, the BBC reports, and they’ll continue being so until December. They’ll be providing flight information, translations and answer questions about the city in an easy manner.

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of the airport, believes that the new move proves they’re thinking “outside the box.”

“The fact that it’s the first trial of its kind in a Scottish airport is exciting as it shows we’re leading the way in how we interact with our passengers. Over the next few months we’ll be able to establish whether this product is suitable for an airport environment,” Dewar states.

Privacy in an airport is close to none, but there are still complaints

News wasn’t well received by everyone, however. The Edinburgh News reports that privacy campaigners have raised concerns over the intrusion of privacy, as well as using the device in public and recording people without their permission; basically all the concerns some people have about Google Glass in general.

Emma Carr, the director of Big Brother Watch, said the airport should carefully consider whether the technology should be used in an airport or not.

“The danger with Google Glass is that the camera is seeing what you see, all the time, while the microphone allows nearby conversations to be eavesdropped on,” she said, although the reality of Google Glass is a bit different, since we’re not talking about Artificial Intelligence here, which would allow Glass to do all these things.

On the other hand, airports are already covered in a web of cameras recording every move, which makes being annoyed by Google Glass while already being supervised seems unnecessary.

“It is impossible to guarantee against these devices being hacked, so it is surprising that this technology is allowed anywhere like an airport or government buildings. Google Glass offers a uniquely detailed view of your life and your surroundings and while Google’s main interest is selling advertising, there are a whole range of reasons why other people might seek to do all they can to get access to a device,” she continued.

The airport is the fifth in size in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers. Last year, it saw nearly 10 million passengers passing through its gates.