THE GUARDIAN — Google will not allow apps that implement facial recognition on itsGoogle Glass product, the company says, citing privacy concerns, after an American company said it would offer a commercial service to recognise celebrities and others.
Developers have pointed out though that it is possible to load apps – which Google calls “Glassware” – onto the wearable system without needing Google’s permission. Those could then communicate with any of a growing number of services which say they can connect a name with a face once given a photo.
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Equally, users could simply upload still pictures to other online services which would provide the facial recognition service. “A ‘ban’ is purely symbolic,” commented Martin Macdonald, a marketing director for Expedia EAN who has tried Google Glass.
The developers behind Lambda Labs, which offers a paid-for facial recognition service, tweeted: “Don’t worry, we think it’s a core feature. Google will allow it or be replaced with something that does.”
Read more at The Guardian.
