Though Google has already stated that it will not be making facial recognition a feature of Google Glass unless the company “have strong privacy protections in place,” that doesn’t mean that others can’t make one for them .  Also, Google Glass’ terms and conditions don’t forbid others to use it’s built-in camera to detect faces.

Now, it looks as if developers are already trying to exploit this loophole. Lambda Labs, a company that specializes in facial recognition software, has already developed a mechanism that could be used by Google Glass app developers to incorporate facial recognition on the apps.

Thankfully, at least for now, the facial recognition software doesn’t allow for real-time facial recognition, nor does it allow for recognition of complete strangers.  But what it can do is let Glassholes take a photograph of someone, tag that photo with information relevant to that person, and from then on use that info to identify that particular person in subsequent photos taken.

The software will be available in the coming days for programmers.

Lambda Labs claims that future version of the software will have real-time facial recognition so it can be used to identify people instantly, meaning that Glass wearers will never again have to go through those awkward situations wherein they’ve been talking to an acquaintance for about an hour but they still can’t remember their name.

Obviously lots of people are worried about privacy when it comes to facial recognition, but in response to these concerns, developers at Twitter believe that the technology could actually be used to provide added security. For example, doormen or security guards at major events can wear Google Glass and use it to spot known troublemakers on file. Alternatively, facial recognition could also help people easily find friends in a huge crowd.

Our very own Mark “Rizzn” Hopkins commented about the benefits of this application of Glass in this morning’s NewsDesk with Kristin Feledy stating, “The ability to get quick datapoints and interest graph of a person you’re talking to and never met before will allow you to much more quickly relate to that person and have a real conversation, a real engaging conversation.”

The technology could be used to link people’s faces to their Facebook or LinkedIn accounts or any other form of social media, but this is where it gets worrying, and one wonders just how far will this technology go. Just imagine for a moment if it were possible to walk down the street, snap a photo of some hot girl or guy as you walk past them, then instantly do a search to pull up their Facebook profile and learn their name and other things about them – that’s the point when things get seriously creepy…

Admittedly, Lambda Labs says that it isn’t possible to do so now, but what if someone else comes along and does make it happen? The technological means are already there, all we’re waiting for is for someone to put it together.

For this reason, social media sites may well need to offer newer features to protect people’s privacy. If Google Glass or some other form of discreet facial recognition software becomes common, social networks will need to give people a way of opting out of this, so that even if they get recognized by Google Glass, their online profile would not pop up.

Mark “Rizzn” Hopkins joined Kristin Feledy to discuss the privacy concerns of Google Glass on this morning’s Live NewsDesk Show: