December 2, 2013 IT Law Alert

Google Glass: Seeing Legal Risks

Google Glass, the latest in wearable technology, should be commercially available in 2014. Resembling futuristic eyewear, the device has a tiny screen located over the user’s right eye that includes browser access and a camera. The hands-free nature affords many potential uses. Accessing assembly instructions or recipes by looking slightly up sounds convenient. Google Glass has already been used for real-time streaming of surgical procedures.

But how will the presence of Google Glass impact your business’ premises? A Google Glass user can record and photograph people or objects by voice command, which is far more subtle than using a camera or cell phone. A third party app called “Winky” even allows a photo to be taken by a wink command. Some restaurants and bars in California and Washington State have banned Google Glass because of privacy concerns. New Jersey has enacted legislation allowing casinos to ban Google Glass.

Citing safety concerns, a few state legislatures, including West Virginia’s, have introduced bills to specifically ban driving while wearing Google Glass. The United Kingdom is doing the same. Last month, a California woman received a citation for driving while wearing Google Glass.

Your organization should consider how to address the potential privacy, security and safety implications of employee and customer use of Google Glass.

Access the West Virginia bill here.

Contact us at Ossian Law P.C. for assistance with creating and refreshing policies or any other information technology law question.

 © 2013 Ossian Law P.C.