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Understanding Tech Issues with Reliable Vision of Innovation

by Jerry Liao, Philippines

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No click, no pic

Jan 28, 2009 20:02

New York Republican Rep. Peter King filed a bill called "Camera Phone Predator Alert Act" requiring every camera phone to make a click sound everytime the user takes a picture. The purpose of this bill is to thwart the illegal taking of pictures of unsuspecting subjects.

A portion of 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)".

In a way, I have an idea why this bill was proposed--to minimize or totally eliminate the taking of "upskirt" photos.

I don't think this bill will work for the simple reason that upskirt photos are taken in public places, which means it's too noisy for people to hear the clicks. Even if I can't turn off the clicks or even lower the volume, I can always cover the speaker so the click sound will be lessened.

Another problem is users can use digital cameras and/or video cameras to take such pictures. As they say: Where there's a will, there's a way.

God bless us all!

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About Jerry Liao

Jerry Liao is an IT consultant in the Philippines who conducts seminars on various tech topics. He is a regular columnist of Manila Bulletin, a member of the academe, a system developer and a system analyst. He is a frequent fixture in press conferences and tech launchings, most of which are posted at infochat.com.ph. He loves to tinker with the latest gadgets and gizmos, but his most cherish possession are his children.