By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
A new bill, the “Camera Phone Predator Alert Act,” introduced by New York Republican Rep. Peter King would requires mobile phones with digital cameras “to make a sound” whenever a photograph is taken.
The bill states:
Requires any mobile phone containing a digital camera to sound a tone whenever a photograph is taken with the camera’s phone. Prohibits such a phone from being equipped with a means of disabling or silencing the tone. Treats the requirement as a consumer product safety standard and requires enforcement by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Before anyone makes fun of the bill, something like this is already done in Japan, though I don’t believe there is an actual law. However, the practice of taking “upskirt” photos is so prevalent there that nearly every cell phone makes a sound when the camera is activated, even the iPhone.
And yes, there is absolutely no way to disable the sound. You could probably jailbreak your iPhone if you really wanted to get around that, but that option isn’t available for most cell phones.
Will the bill pass? Probably not, since there are no co-sponsors, but who knows? Maybe they’ll tack it onto some other bill and get it passed on the sly.
Readers, your opinion of this? Remember, it’s already something done in Japan, so don’t use technology as an issue.
On the iPhone, the toggle switch above the volume rocker will turn off all sounds, including the sound it makes when taking pictures.
This will be great. When everyone is taking pictures at what would otherwise be a quiet event, there will be a cacaphony of phony clicking knows. Another government solution in search of a problem…
Because we all know that “upskirt†photos are really so bad… Come on! Who cares, if someone wants to see my undies… so be it. This is truly stupid!
Oh Joy! No worries of upskirt photos while we’re all standing on the unemployment line.
Good to know our pols really have their priorities in order.
I understand why they do it in Japan, up-skirt photography is a serious problem (whatever Caco Potoso says, most women don’t want people taking up-skirt photos. I certainly don’t want anyone taking photos of my undies to begin with, much less on commuter trains!) Is this actually a serious problem in New York or something? Camera phones have been presenting privacy issues for a while now, but this seems a tad extreme…
I think when we can record HD video on these phones a lot of people will be at a loss of what to do.
Kunoichi, the undies or other parts of the body are not that different than other parts. Put things in perspective and realize that. If it is so so important that nobody ever sees your undies wear pants. It is not a life/death situation, eh?
I didn’t say it was life or death. But I also don’t see why I can’t wear perfectly reasonable clothing and must always wear pants just to protect my privacy from perverts. For that matter, if a stranger is going to take a photo of me specifically and not a crowd, I expect them to ask permission.
Consider the logical extreme of your argument, Chambo. It essentially says “a woman who wears a skirt gives permission for her privacy to violated.”
How would you like to be told you couldn’t wear pants anymore, you *had* to wear skirts all the time? And the reason? “Because otherwise your going to be violated by strangers and we aren’t going to bother doing anything about it”. You wouldn’t like it, would you?
Hey Kunoichi, don’t exagerate on your answer. Nobody is really touching you. It is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (you are completely wrong in your answer to Chambo).
To put as equivalent “photo of undies” with “violation” is sick.
Also: note that anybody can take your picture on a public place, nobody needs permission for that (at least in the US).
Hmmm, Oscar Grant shooting (or tasering gone tragically wrong) recorded by camera phone, now this silly camera phone legislation. Connected? nah.
Can I choose the sound my camera phone makes?
A stranger doesn’t have to ask to take your picture. Anything that can be publicly seen with the eyes is public domain and can be photographed. You can’t erase a person’s memory can you? Upskirts are another matter, BUT, if you’re wearing a skirt so short that when you go up a flight of stairs or escalator, or you’re sitting down with your legs up and your panties are showing, once again, if it’s showing, it’s public. Women used to wear respectable clothing, and if it was a dress, they were taught how to sit with one on and how to keep it down in the wind. If your buttcheeks are popping out of your skirt, don’t complain flooseys!
Camera phones have been presenting privacy issues for a while now, but this seems a tad extreme
tibald, obviously, phones don’t matter
you all need to grow up and stop playing with mobiles ,ban the bloody lot of them i say