Google Glass: Expect widespread usage bans over privacy concerns

[Barman58]

AFAIK, the US and most other countries are the same as the UK with regard to Photography in Public places - it is completely legal, as there is no copyright of faces. As long as the images are not used in a defamatory manner, for commercial purposes, or taking a photograph of certain private locations,(generally those involved with defence).

There is nothing wrong (legally), in taking a photographic image in a public place. Law enforcement cannot confiscate equipment or force someone to delete images, without a specific court order, and certainly private security personnel cannot.

It does come down to a definition of what is a public place - I was once informed that my car park, on private land, was a public place, as I used it in the course of inviting people into my business. ( at the time I was a Publican, and a customer was breathalyzed whilst getting property out of his vehicle before walking home, thus deemed as being in charge of the vehicle )

The availability of Google Glass is certainly something to be concerned about with regards to distraction of a driver but to make the act of using them for taking a photograph, would involve a lot of re-writing of the Law

 

[Gary]

But in most cases the people being filmed know that they are being filmed. They can see the camera. Using Google Glass will make a PI's day.

 

[Barman58]

But in most cases the people being filmed know that they are being filmed. They can see the camera. Using Google Glass will make a PI's day.

I have more of a problem with the fact that if I walk from my property to the local city centre, About an hour or so, I will be on camera for most if not all of the journey. I am aware that these camera are there for "my safety", but the TV seems to be full of clips from these "security" cameras, someone is using these commercially

 

[marsmimar]

I think the basic question is, who has the greater "right" . . . my right to privacy or someone else's right to use Google Glass to infringe on my right to privacy.

A long time ago I was told that if I voluntarily show up at a public venue (football match, building fire, etc) and was part of the crowd, I had no right to privacy. Or if I was out in public and did something so outrageous as to call attention to myself, I had no right to privacy. I think these standards still apply.

But suppose I'm on crutches hobbling down a public street minding my own business and someone thinks I look hilariously funny. That person takes my picture or a video of me and posts it somewhere so others of a like mind can enjoy the hilarity of my travails. Who has the greater "right"? Me or the "photographer"? Is the fact that I'm on crutches so outrageous that I'm drawing attention to myself? Who decides what is outrageous or not? Wouldn't "outrageousness" be kinda like beauty? It's all in the eye of the beholder?

I don't think there's gonna be a simple answer to this newest technology.

 

[Barman58]

Always a difficult line to draw

In your given example it would fall, (under UK law, anyway), under the use of images for defamatory purposes, and thus be sanctionable, though of course the amount of work required of you, the injured party, would likely mean that it was not worth the effort, which is never right

 

[Gary]

But in most cases the people being filmed know that they are being filmed. They can see the camera. Using Google Glass will make a PI's day.

I have more of a problem with the fact that if I walk from my property to the local city centre, About an hour or so, I will be on camera for most if not all of the journey. I am aware that these camera are there for "my safety", but the TV seems to be full of clips from these "security" cameras, someone is using these commercially

In Washington DC there are thousands of cameras. You walk into a expensive Jewelry store and you are on a camera the minute you walk in. These cameras in DC, Chicago, LA are there for our protection. Where I live they are using these boxes on the side of the road that have a radar gun and camera inside. They clock your speed, take your picture and you receive a ticket in the mail. IMHO , this is a violation of our constitution because everyone has the right to face his accuser. How do you cross examine a machine??

 

[Layback Bear]

I do wonder how so many people worry about big brother monitoring the internet and don't seem to care if big brother and a stranger are taking pictures or videos of them without their permission or knowledge.

 

[bobland]

And you think driving and texting is bad? Wait until all the high speed crashed and deaths occur from idiots driving and texting with these glasses on.

I'm locking myself in my room.