Google: No facial recognition capabilities for Google Glass

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 3 (UPI) — Google says it will not allow facial recognition capabilities on its Glass wearable computer until there are strong privacy protections in place.

“We’ve been listening closely to you, and many have expressed both interest and concern around the possibilities of facial recognition in Glass,” the company’s Project Glass wrote in a post.

Google said it won’t be approving any facial recognition “Glassware” — Web-based services that interact with Google Glass — at this time, PC World reported Sunday.

Google Glass has already garnered considerable criticism on privacy issues; Las Vegas casinos and some bars say they are considering banning the devices, and some states are mulling legislation to ban the wearing of the devices while driving.

Google said it has modified its developer policies to prohibit the use of the Glass camera or microphone “to cross-reference and immediately present personal information identifying anyone other than the user, including use cases such as facial recognition and voice print.”