UK Group Wants Mandatory Flash For Phone Cams

meganthom writes "The BBC is carrying a story about some privacy groups' concerns about the new camera phones. Privacy International, a London-based group, is asking that all phones flash when they are being used to take a photograph. In Korea, the government would like phones to make a loud sound when taking a picture. Also mentioned, several companies/labs do not allow employees to have photo phones on site. Anyone remember that Dilbert?"

Comments

Silly initiative?

[SIGALRM]

Privacy International, a London-based group, is asking that all phones flash when they are being used to take a photograph

I'm skeptical of any regulation that can be defeated by a tiny piece of tape...

Re:Silly initiative?

[TheLoneIguana]

Or yet another illicit use for a Sharpie.

Re:Silly initiative?

[IronChef]

You just make putting tape on the flash illegal and restrict web sites that talk about adhesive technology. Make the phone emit a piercing whistle whenever it takes a picture so the blind are protected too... and an odor for the deaf and blind peoples' benefit. We'll all be a lot better off with strobing, screeching, farting phones and I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.

BOOYAH, what you got to say NOW, mr. big brain?! You and your prohibited adhesives are gonna land in the slammer.

Does this mean doodz with

[Sai Babu]

photographic memories will be required to have a flash attachment installed with their RFID implant?

Better idea:

[Neil Blender]

They should make it shout, "Hey, I'm taking your picture."

come on

[Anonymous Coward]

Silent camera phones don't take steamy uncensored barely legal gym shower room photos, people take steamy uncensored barely legal gym shower room photos.

Re:in other news

[mcmonkey]

First, they came for our shift keys, now our electrical tape. What's next?

Think of the children!

Cracked already!

[neil.pearce]

Just appeared on Suprnova. Damm hackers...

Flash "protection"
Search for place_your_thumb_over_the_light_DEViANCE.torrent

Sound "protection"
Search for cut_a_wire_on_the_speaker_(RELOADED).torrent

Simple problem, simple solution

[Weaselmancer]

Tape would neutralize both "fixes" pretty easily.

Easy problem to solve there, friend. All you need to do next is make a law banning tape as a circumvention device.

After all - look at what banning felt pens did for the music industry!

Re:Circumvention

[Devalia]

How about 5 years in jail for using one in a cinema to type a text message :)

Re:I think the UK should ban...

[El]

The already did. They shipped them all out to the colonies... ;-)

Agreed.

[Anonymous Coward]

Look out, look out! It's a paediatrician!

A paedwhat?

Who cares? Burn its house!

Re:In Japan they make a sound

[Karma Farmer]

A chikan who wants an upskirt shot probably has a better chance now than he would have a couple of years ago - partly because people are used to the cameras and partly because they are used to the sound.

In America, if you want an upskirt shot, just ask the next ten women who walk by in in skirts. At least one will say yes.

Short term memory

[UnHolier than ever]

Anyone remember that Dilbert?

Now, seriously? Anyone remembers it? It's three days old! Ok, slashdot readers might have a short attention span, but come on....

Re:in other news

[Lord_Dweomer]

First they came for our shift keys, but I did not speak up because I did not have a shift key.

Then they came for our felt tip markers, but I did not speak up because I did not have a felt tip marker.

Then they came for the electrical tape, and I did not speak up for I did not have electrical tape.

Then they came for me and there was nothing left to crack the DRM they installed in my brain.

Re:I think the UK should ban...

[Stephen Samuel]

Surely there must be some way for the Slashdot crowd to twist this into an anti-Bush/Ashcroft rant.

Thanks. You've just given me my new signature. My previous one was election based.

Re:It's a silly solution.

[The Phantom Buffalo]

You had to mention fingers. Now they will have to ban them also.

There goes my sex life.

Re:Electrical Tape

[deglr6328]

yes, a magical red led, eternally incapable of being taped over!