You should never yell fire in a crowded movie theater. You should never wear wearable technology in a movie theater either.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)? and National Association of Theater Owners are commanding wearable devices such as the smartwatch and Google Glass to be shut off while the movie is playing. Those who fail to comply will be asked to leave the theater. That’s not all. If it’s discovered the film was being recorded on the device, police will be called in. It’s part of their anti-piracy zero-tolerance crusade. This new ruling comes in the wake of last year’s MPAA ruling, urging theaters to check bags and jackets for cameras and other things, as to look for ‘suspicious activity’ among customers.? The MPAA is using 21st century technology of their own to enforce their zero tolerance anti-piracy crusade, such as night-vision goggles and low-light binoculars. Google Glass has been specifically targeted. The United Kingdom and theaters in five US states have banned Google Glass altogether, whether you’re using it or not. If you’re thinking about recording in a movie there, don’t do it. Penalties can be severe. Under the federal law, film piracy recordings can carry a maximum three year prison sentence. That doesn’t include state and local sentences.
I’ve never been a fan of Google Glass. I think the device can be easily used to invade peoples’ privacy and civil liberties. Maybe the smartwatch will be manipulated to do the same. So I can see the concern there. But I’m equally as concerned with how the MPAA and National Association of Theater Owners are acting. Three years in prison for piracy? I’ve read about violent criminals who serve less time. And I’m kind of weary of checks at theaters. I’ve never experienced this myself, but don’t we get enough of that at airports? I understand piracy takes food out of mouths and they want to put a stop to it. But are these policies good for stopping piracy or are they going too far?