Eight members of Congress have sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page asking tough and necessary questions about the Internet giant's new wearable computing device, Google Glass.

The letter from members of the Bipartisan Privacy Caucus, whose Co-chairman is conservative Joe Barton, (R-TX), says, "As members of the Congressional Bipartisan Privacy Caucus, we are curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of the average American."                         (Sergy Brinn Wears Google Glass)

It's great to see that in a largely dysfunctional Congress some members can reach across the aisle and demonstrate that privacy is not a partisan issue. Besides Barton others signing the letter are Rep. John Barrow (D-GA), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr. (D-GA), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), Rep. Richard Nugent (R-FL), Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).

The letter also poses several questions intended to make sure consumers' rights are protected. They include:

    •    When using Google Glass, is it true that this product would be able to use Facial Recognition Technology to unveil personal information about whomever and even some inanimate objects that the user is viewing? Would a user be able to request such information? Can a non-user or human subject opt out of this collection of personal data? If so, how? If not, why not?

    •    In Google’s privacy policy, it states that the company “may collect device-specific information (such as your hardware model, operating system version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information including phone number).” Would Google Glass collect any data about the user without the user’s knowledge and consent? If so, why? If not, please explain.

    •    Will Google Glass have the capacity to store any data on the device itself? If so, will Google Glass implement some sort of user authentication system to safeguard stored data? If not, why not? If so, please explain.
 

Read a copy of the Bipartisan Privacy Caucus letter here.

The Representatives want answers to their questions by June 14.  I'm betting that Google stalls.  Ultimately I think the Representatives will need a Congressional hearing where CEO Page has to answer queries under oath.

As word of the Privacy Caucus's letter was being reported, Google was holding its annual meeting with developers. Google Glass product director Steve Lee claimed in a "fireside chat" that the Glass team takes privacy seriously.

What a joke! The fact is that Google has become a serial privacy violator.  It's executives just don't understand what privacy means and there is no reason to expect that they will.  For instance, asked about whether Glass will offer facial recognition technology, Lee said, “We’ve definitely experimented with it but it is not in the product today. I can imagine that existing…”