Google Glass Bans Facial Recognition...What Good Is That?

   

     If you've been hiding under a rock for the last year and don't know what Google Glass is yet...Google it! Today, Google has announced that it is banning the development of facial recognition software apps for it's Google Glass hardware. They're doing this as a reaction to certain segments of the public which have decried Glass for it's privacy concerns. Banning facial recognition apps from the device will actually do more harm than good. All that means is that honest law abiding citizens who wouldn't use facial recognition software on Glass in a reprehensible or irresponsible way won't have access to it. Those who would use it in some way that would be morally or legally wrong will simply install that software on Glass through a hack.

     Gee, where have we heard of a scenario just like this before? Oh yeah, gun control. Gun control only keeps honest people from having guns, criminals will still get their hands on them. It's the same with banning facial recognition software, (which is everywhere already, most new computers bought today and a large number of smartphones come with facial recognition software pre-installed). There will be a hack out there allowing people to install facial recognition software onto Glass, and only hardcore geeks and those with criminal intent will install it. HERE'S a pair of glasses available for $75 that will secretly record video of anyone you're looking at, and I don't hear anyone making a big deal about them like they are Google Glass! Spy glasses like these have been available for several years, yet people are acting like Google is the first to ever do it, and they're taking all the heat for it.

     Every day you are probably being recorded by someone somewhere from the moment you step out of your home, particularly if you live in an urban area. See that guy who looks like he's trying to find something on his smartphone? There's a good chance he's really taking pictures of you, or recording video. How would you know? The days of privacy were nothing more than an illusion anyway. I can remember years before technology went digital all the ads in the back of magazines for spy cameras disguised as everyday objects like pens and tie clips. Who do you think were buying those things back then? Honest, everyday citizens? NO! it was pedophiles, rapists and perverts.

     Stop worrying about Google Glass and start thinking about the kind of empowerment that kind of technology can do for good in the right hands. Because whether you like it or not, that kind of technology is going to get into the wrong hands anyway!