Cafes ban Google glasses to protect customers' privacy: Fears users of futuristic eyewear can record without permission

Cafe owners ban Google Glass over secret filming fears
It could be banned from American cinemas, casinos and even parks

PUBLISHED: 19:20 EST, 12 May 2013 | UPDATED: 03:33 EST, 13 May 2013

Google is facing a growing backlash over its ‘Glass’ eyewear, with cafe owners in the US banning the technology from their premises.

Dave Meinert, who runs the 5 Point Cafe in Seattle, said those wearing the spectacles will have to remove them if they want to come in.

He has put up a sign on the wall which reads: ‘Respect our customers’ privacy as we’d expect them to respect yours.’

Invasion of privacy?: Google Glass can film what the wearer sees without any indication to others

The move comes after it emerged people wearing Google Glass could be banned from American cinemas, casinos and even parks because owners don’t want filming there.

The glasses, which cost $1,500 a pair (£980), are currently on limited release to 2,000 customers but will be more widely available later this year.

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A camera next to the wearer’s eye, which can take photos or record video without a red light or a shutter sound to tell others that it is working, has caused concerns for privacy.

Casinos said the futuristic eyewear could help cheaters to win unfairly and cinemas said they could be used to illegally record films and sell pirate copies.

Lap dance clubs said that they would treat those wearing the Internet-connected specs the same as anyone caught filming a stripper with a cameraphone - and would kick them out.

Behind the lens: Wearers of Google Glass can film as they walk around wearing the technology

Parks departments and banks across America are also waiting to see how the new technology is used before deciding whether or not to ban them.

Dan Tench, of legal firm Olswang, which is co-ordinating a privacy lawsuit against Google in the UK, said: ‘This is the ultimate snooper’s gizmo. If you walk around with a video camera filming, it’s obvious what you’re doing, but with Google Glass, it’s much, much more invasive.’

Google’s chairman Eric Schmidt once admitted that the aim with such technology was to ‘go right up to the creepy line and not cross it’.

But the public clearly feels differently and in France those wearing Google Glass style specs have been subjected to ‘cyber discrimination’.

University of Toronto computer engineering professor Steve Mann was at a McDonald’s restaurant in Paris when he claims an employee tried to physically remove a similar gadget he designed from his head.

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Or you could look at it another way - wearers could, snap a mugger without putting themselves in danger, take a movie clip of a road traffic accident in which someone is critically injured, record and report road traffic jams etc..

- Razorwire , North of Watford Gap, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 11:30

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And no one's even mentioned locker rooms yet...

- Just Dona , Metropolis, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 11:23

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Ok everybody, all together, stamp your feet and shout "NO!", this will make all Google goggles fall off the wearers face, job done.

- Notable Musician , Cerences, France, 13/5/2013 11:02

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They are all doomed Captain Mainwaring, they are all doomed ........... Does google stand for go & ogle? I am all for technology but I would draw the line at this. Who wants to see what hand you wipe your backside with?

- Grumpy Grandpa , Livingston, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 11:02

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Imagine someone watching a film on these whilst driving !

- Tony , Bristol-England, 13/5/2013 10:59

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One more nail in the coffin for society

- JamesisvotingUKIP , Poole Dorset, 13/5/2013 10:55

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glasses....take photo...behind you at a cash machine..its very spooky

- shaunmk , milton keynes, 13/5/2013 10:52

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This is a great idea but it's far too open to abuse by idiots

- dejack , London, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 10:52

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Another day, another DM anti-Google Glass story

- cc , London, 13/5/2013 10:48

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"This is just a panic. After all, if I really wanted to I could record and take pics with my smartphone, laptop or even a spy pen! - anon, London, 13/05/2013 08:35 Try strapping one of those gadgets to your head and see what reaction you get." Isn't the point this person is making that if you wanted to secretly film somewhere you could do it easily already with hidden cameras. Strapping a camera to the front of your head (or in this case just having one attached as a seprate peripheral) it's not exactly subtle.

- Guilefox , Marlow, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 10:44

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