Camera phones, fun no more warn police
With the mobile camera phone now being the `in thing` in Lanka like in many other countries and as a result of its growing popularity the police cautioned that anyone misusing the technology could be taken to task.
Police spokesman DIG Jayantha Wickramaratne says the public could go as far as filing civil action and claiming damages from a camera phone user if there is a violation of their privacy.
`Without the consent of the party a photograph or video cannot be taken. That is a violation of that person`s privacy. So they can protest against it and complain to the police or insist that the image or video be deleted immediately,` DIG Wickramaratne told the Daily Mirror.
With the advent of the camera phone there are concerns that some users violate the privacy of others, especially that of females, by taking their photographs in public places like on the streets or clubs without their knowledge and using them for mischievous purposes.
Due to their size and ease of use, camera phones can go unnoticed in places where conventional cameras are not allowed, such as locker rooms, courtrooms or museums.
When contacted by the Daily Mirror, a Singaporean-based official of the leading mobile phone manufacturer Nokia said how the mobile device is used and
for what purposes lies in the hands of the customer and cannot be controlled by the manufacturer.
However, the police spokesman noted that while it was wrong to use a camera phone for mischievous purposes, such devices could also be handy as evidence in solving crimes if an individual manages to capture a criminal act in progress.
`There are pros and cons when using a camera phone. It all depends on the purpose it is used for,` he said.
The camera phone now holds 85% of the world mobile phone market. According to reports, the use of camera phones has become so ubiquitous in Hong Kong that gyms have expressly prohibited the use of cell phones with inbuilt cameras in locker rooms.
Furthermore, various businesses and public authorities in Japan, Singapore and China have reportedly banned the use of these phones in places such as public swimming pools, schools and government buildings.
Saudi Arabia has taken a more radical approach, with the government banning the use of camera phones altogether.
Evi874
Why do you jump into conclusion. Who told you that Camera phones should be banned as done in Saudi Arabia. The problem is you guys misusing the Camera phones and that`s the fact.
No need to ban but tough actions should be taken against those who violates the rules.
I think they are trying to warn the public of misuse in the sense of secretly taping something. There are tonnes of video clips online of couples making out and what not.
There are many video cameras in air ports shopping centers schools and every where.Many many video cameras carry millions of peoples in the world.
In Sri Lanka if you wants to take at a picture of your daughter`s walking in the street advice is first evacuate the street or face consequence of going to prison.Stupidity have no boundaries
One place where the ban is in order in SL is the Banks where people depositing or withdrawing large sums of money can be photographed and become targets for abduction.
I think one of the reasons is that some a.holes were taking upskirt pics of girls in buses, clubs, cafes etc and posting them on the web... In the past few weeks i`ve got at least a dozen of such videos that circulate in massive emailing lists... Lots of people don`t think before they forward such emails cos the subject on the video is completely innocent and those email can and will ruin their life :(
There was a site featuring those videos and i think some sensible human being has taken action to take it down :)
A ban is not the answer but educating public that they have the right to protest if a person is using the phone is a `suspicious` manner. And also educate the users of the consequences if they do invade someone`s privacy
Camera Phones are used worldwided except some countries banning for their cultural reasons. However, it is widely used in the middle east countries as well whereas the cultural valuse are respected. If someone caught misusing and anyone reported to the authorities of misuse they would be dealt with in accordance with the Law. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned everything is law. From the Local Grama Sevaka to Politicians, Forces and the Home Gurds have the law in their hands to convict anyone against them. Using mobile Camera on others personal matters and exploiting is wrong and must be banned. What is clause for this in SL law books. Can anyone tell.
Trying to go back to the stone age. Some times back motor vehicles are banned on roads in some countries.
Add Camera phones to the ban list & Lets keep `BAN` policy going.
Why use phones at all. We are under MR/Mugabe/sinhala taliban rule. We eat rice cake, rice bread and rice and more rice. We wear no clothes. We follow the rule of jungle. Of course, without any disrespect for respectable animals.
[ya, use of camera phones shall be controlled...i remember in my villege, when first camera phones were widely used, a youngster made a vedio clip behind the bush of women bathing in the river.since this place of the river was only for women, they were widely exposed to the camera. by chance someone show him doing so, and was cought...
nowadays, with bloototh and MMS, youngsters exchange even such videos...so, it should be controled somehow.]