US questions Google on Glass privacy

17 May 2013 Last updated at 11:47 GMT Google was fined and faced heavy criticism for scooping up data from open wi-fi networks US politicians are seeking reassurances from Google that its smart spectacles will respect personal privacy.

A letter has been sent to Google signed by eight members of a Congressional caucus seeking answers about Google Glass.

The letter poses eight questions for Google about the data the gadget will collect about users and non-users.

The group said it was "uncertain" about the privacy protections Google plans to build in to the device.

"We are curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of the average American," says the letter from the Congressional privacy caucus which, in the past, has quizzed many tech companies on what they do with the data they gather.

As a bipartisan interest group, the caucus has both Democrats and Republicans as members.

Google Glass is proving a controversial technology because of its potential to gather images, video and other data about almost anything a user sees. Some have claimed that privacy will be "impossible" if Google Glass and similar products become widely used.

The letter, addressed to Google boss Larry Page, pointed out that the company did not have an unblemished history when it came to handling personal information. It mentioned the widespread criticism Google faced and the fines it had to pay after it inadvertently scooped up data from unprotected wi-fi networks while gathering information for its Street View service.

The politicians want to know how Google will ensure it does not repeat that mistake.

In addition, the Congressmen want to know what Google's policy is for handling the privacy of non-users and how it will respect the wishes of those who do not want to be identified or have any information about them taken from social media sites.

The group also wants Google to explain how it will refine and update its privacy policies to reflect the novel capabilities of Google Glass. The search firm has been given until 14 June to respond to the letter from the caucus.

Some of the points in the letter were addressed during an interview in San Francisco with Google Glass director Steve Lee.

Mr Lee said the Glass team took the privacy of users and non-users seriously, reported the All Things D news blog.

"From the beginning, the social implications… of Glass, of people wearing Glass, has been at the top of our mind," the site reported.

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McBride questions Lions captaincy

Legendary Lions captain Willie John McBride says he would have made Brian O'Driscoll skipper for the summer tour of Australia ahead of Sam Warburton.

The Wales flanker will lead the Lions on the 10-match tour Down Under.

But McBride, who captained the Lions on their unbeaten 22-game tour of South Africa in 1974,  has reservations.

"[It] worries me a little bit that he [Warburton] wasn't prepared to take on that responsibility [captaincy] for Wales during the year," McBride said.

"I must admit that personally I would have taken O'Driscoll [as captain], who relishes the captaincy and he's playing well, and he's been around a long time [and] he has a lot of experience at captaincy.

Sat 1 June v Barbarians, Hong Kong Wed 5 June v Western Force, Perth Sat 8 June, Queensland Reds, Brisbane Tue 11 June, Combined NSW-Queensland, Newcastle Sat 15 June, NSW Waratahs, Sydney Tue 18 June, ACT Brumbies, Canberra Sat 22 June v Australia, Brisbane Tue 25 June, v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne Sat 29 June, v Australia, Melbourne Sat 6 July, v Australia, Sydney "But there you are, Warburton's the man and we wish him good luck and I hope he does well."

Warburton led Wales in their 30-22 defeat by Ireland in their opening 2013 Six Nations game.

But the Cardiff Blues open-side missed the second game in France with injury and then came off the bench against Italy, while Ryan Jones led Wales in their 28-18 win over Scotland.

And Gethin Jenkins captained the side in the championship decider against England after Jones was injured, with Warburton admitting he wanted to concentrate on his own game.

He said at the time: "I can go out and just focus on myself and try and perform the same way as I did last Saturday."

McBride says that decision is a concern for him.

"That would have been a great experience for him in building up to a Lions tour," said the Ulsterman, who played on five British and Irish Lions tours between 1962 and 1974.

"I don't quite know why he did that [opt against captaining Wales], I think he felt that it might interfere with his game and that's a little bit worrying.

"But obviously [Lions coach] Warren Gatland knows him and is happy enough, and he's his choice as captain and so we've got to go with that."

McBride, 72, says captaining the Lions is the biggest honour for any rugby player from Britain or Ireland.

But he added: "With the honour comes responsibility and you mustn't forget you have players from the four countries.

"You don't have Welsh Lions or Irish Lions or English Lions or Scottish Lions - they're all Lions, and the first thing he [Warburton] has to do is weld them into a team and forget about the nationalities.

"After that he's obviously got to play well and lead well, not only on the field but off the field. And obviously it carries a lot of responsibility with it if you're going to win."

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