Members of Congress Ask Google to Respond to a List of Glass Privacy Concerns

While some members of Congress might have been excited to try on Google's Glass this week, others are concerned about their privacy implications.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) and seven other members of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus have sent a letter to Google CEO and co-founder Larry Page requesting answers to a series of privacy questions and concerns raised by the camera-equipped glasses.

"As members of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, we are curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of average Americans," the letter reads. "Because Google Glass has not yet been released and we are uncertain of Google's plans to incorporate privacy protections into the device, there are still a number of answered questions that we share."

Eight questions are put forth in the letter, which can be read in full here. The first question addresses Google's track record for ignoring consumer privacy and cites that in 2010 Google had collected user data over wireless networks without permission: "While we are thankful that Google acknowledged that there was an issue and took responsible measures to address it, we would like to know how Google plans to prevent Glass from unintentionally collecting data about the user / non-user without consent?"

But for many, those answers and the idea of leaving the privacy issues up to Google aren't enough. A series of public places have already begun to ban the connected glasses, including casinos like the one in Caesars Palace. MGM Resorts also says it is watching the technology closely and anyone suspected to be "videotaping or taking photographs in the gaming areas of the resorts" with the glasses will be asked to discontinue doing so. Some select bars and movie theaters have also said that use of the connected glasses won't be allowed. The West Virginia state legislature has also proposed an amendment banning the use of Glass while driving.

"There are significant privacy and security risks inherent with Google Glass and I expect more places to ban them," Brad Shear, a Washington-area attorney and blogger who is an expert on social media, told ABC News. "Would you be comfortable going to your doctor's office/hospital and a nurse and/or the doctor were wearing them? There are state wiretap laws that require consent of a user before they are recorded. Users may violate state wiretap laws while using Glass."