As Google Glass Nears Release, Legal Problems Arise

As Google Glass Nears Release, Legal Problems Arise
Published: 06 May, 2013
3 min read

/ Flickr

Google Glass

Credit: TED Conference

As Google Glass nears release, many are concerned over some of the legal issues this revolutionary device could bring up. One of the most prominent -- and potentially most important for Google -- is the breach of privacy. Most notably, a bar in Seattle called 5 Point Cafe publicly banned Google Glass from its establishment by posting a short, but direct post on its blog:

"If you’re one of the few who are planning on going out and spending your savings on Google Glasses – what will for sure be a new fad for the fanny-pack wearing never removing your bluetooth headset wearing crowd – plan on removing them before you enter The 5 Point. The 5 Point is a No Google Glass zone. Respect our customers privacy as we’d expect them to respect yours."

While this ban may or may not actually be enforced, it calls into question the privacy issue Google Glass raises. The ability to quickly send or receive information about an individual without said individual's consent could be problematic, especially in a place like a bar.

Google, however, remains optimistic that its new technology will eventually be accepted -- even by naysayers.

“It is still very early days for Glass, and we expect that as with other new technologies, such as cell phones, behaviors and social norms will develop over time,” a Google spokesperson said in an interview.

Since one of the largest demographics of Google Glass will be college-aged users, one problem to consider is the use of Google Glass for cheating. The general method would be the same, except it will be almost impossible to detect a student using Google Glass actually cheating during an exam.

The obvious solution is to simply ban Google Glasses before each exam, but it wouldn't be long before there are models of Google Glass that are virtually indistinguishable from normal prescription glasses. There are a number of solutions to this on the table, from classroom-wide jamming devices to spot-checks of glasses to ensure they are not made by Google.

Advertising is another interesting speed bump for Google Glass. Since advertising relies on quickly acquiring the attention of the consumer, many early advertisements in Google Glass could be intrusive. This could be bad -- even lethal -- if the user is driving or performing some other complex task.

IVP Donate

Likely high on the list of concerns with Google Glass, along with privacy, is security. The issue was raised recently when Google Glass was hacked by infamous hacker Liam McLoughlin.

"Once the attacker has root on your Glass, they have much more power than if they had access to your phone or even your computer: they have control over a camera and a microphone that are attached to your head. A bugged Glass doesn't just watch your every move: it watches everything you are looking at (intentionally or furtively) and hears everything you do," said programmer Jay Freeman in a blog post. "The only thing it doesn't know are your thoughts."

The solution to this security breach is simple: time. The technology is new and relatively easy to hack since it uses almost identical software to Android phones (which can be hacked in a variety of ways). In time, Google Glass-specific software will be developed which will allow programmers to focus on security specific to Google Glass.

You Might Also Like

New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
Using verified California voter file data, IVP surveyed high-propensity voters from February 13 through 20. The poll tested first-choice ballot preferences alongside issue intensity on affordability and the cost of living, immigration enforcement, more choice reform, and more....
23 Feb, 2026
-
10 min read
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
Polls consistently show that nearly all Americans across the political spectrum agree that there is too much money in politics – whether from foreign sources, corporations, or so-called “dark money” groups. ...
23 Feb, 2026
-
13 min read
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
The overlap between committee assignments and stock ownership is not automatically illegal. Because the current legal framework permits this proximity as long as disclosure rules are followed, lawmakers are not operating under a system that forces change....
20 Feb, 2026
-
4 min read