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Ask HN: AR glasses, so we're cool just being video taped 24/7?

7 points by moomoo11 ↗ HN
Don't get me wrong, I'll probably end up using them if they take off (not want to stay behind the curve lol) but if they have forward facing cameras we're all basically going to be inadvertently capturing on the street, foot traffic level video of each other via whatever ad tech would exist.

Basically no way to opt now, and honestly makes me feel a bit uncomfortable and worried.

10 comments

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r_hoods_ghost
This is one of the major reasons google glass failed - people objecting to "glass holes" filming them and making their objections felt physically.

I suspect that if the type of people likely to drop several thousand quid on an Apple product have to run the risk of being assaulted to use it, then it won't be a success.

There's also a strong possibility that using a constantly recording AR device is illegal in a lot of countries (France I think fits in this category) where you can only photograph / record people with their consent that potentially reduces the total market.

There's even an argument that something like this violates GDPR and it could be illegal EU wide. While this is by no means certain, expect law suits.

darthrupert
This is easily fixed. We start punching anyone in the face who is wearing such glasses in public.
sircastor
I don’t know where you are, but in the US the law would tend to favor the person with the camera.

Firstly, assault is a pretty obviously illegal (and wrong)

Secondly, in public spaces one doesn’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy. (US legal take on it). I guess if you got ahead of it, you might be able to induce a chilling effect, but if Justice was swift and loud it might chill the other direction.

baremetal
There is a certain segment of the population that has no respect for laws and will punch you in the face for next to no reason. If you look at them the wrong way they will become violent.

Good luck with the law thing though.

precompute
LOL. In order to prevent a black mirror-style future, punch a glasshole.
runjake
Why bother? There are already security cameras practically everywhere (schools/cities/businesses/public parks/etc), increasingly to the cloud, and often doing facial/gait analysis.
frou_dh
There's a bit of a distinction between realtime processing and straight-up recording video to disk, but yeah it could get weird.
krapp
No, we're not all cool with it, but like with AI we're not going to be given a vote on the matter. They failed with Google Glass but eventually they'll force it on us.

Also, realistically, we're kind of already there with cellphones.

sen
If you live in any form of civilisation you’re already recorded and analysed in almost all public areas. Supermarkets video everyone and analyse everything you look at or buy, then share the information with various other companies. Security cameras outside shops and homes all record you and save it to the cloud, most of which also share it with authorities and other companies for various reasons. Traffic and toll cameras record which cars are going where, and some even match the driver to the vehicle using facial recognition crossed with drivers license photos.

I’m 100% against it all but there’s nothing we can do anymore. I’m just happy covid normalised wearing masks.