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UK Group Wants Mandatory Flash For Phone Cams

Posted by timothy on from the sound-of-a-presumptuous-hamhanded-kneejerk dept.

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?"

11 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. Electrical Tape by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Tape would neutralize both "fixes" pretty easily.

    1. Re:Electrical Tape by a1cypher · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think maybe they dont mean a flash as in a high voltage camera flash to illuminate the shot, but rather something simple like a red led next to the lense that can be seen by those in the photo.

      They could even market it as a feature. Red Eye reduction... although I am not sure you have to worry about red eye when theres no flash, but you get the point.

      For a recording video, you could just have this light stay blinking (or on constant) much like many existing camcorders already do. Wouldnt drain battery life too much and 90% of those buying the phone wouldnt mind, unless you are explicitly using the phone for things that you shouldnt be.

    2. Re:Electrical Tape by deglr6328 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I think we're all in agreement here about the hilarious idiocy of aforementioned legislation. However as long as we're here I cannot allow this opportunity to discuss nerdly things go unexploited.

      The cell phone LED market is really interesting. You basically have the problem of producing a lot of light very quickly with a very limited amount of power available and an even more limited volume of space to fit your electronics (no room for that big capacitor seen in conventional camera flash drive circuits) to drive the flash since cameras these days are tending ever more toward the positively lilliputian. Many cameras include a simple and cheap Cerium:YAG coated 5mm blue led which can be safely overdriven for a very short amount of time, producing a moderate burst of light. Luxeon, the maker of the current most powerful white LEDs recently entered the market with their much improved version of this method. Certain other companies are trying to miniaturize conventional xenon flash units for use in cell phones. Still other companies are eyeing different methods. The story is, interestingly, somewhat analogous to the development of cell phone electronics themselves, a maximization of efficiency in terms of converting power from the battery to the display, processor and transmitter. Except now it's a game of getting the most photons out of a flash using the fewest electrons to do it.

      --
      - "Hear that?! The percolations are imminent! Cease your ingress!"
  2. I think the UK should ban... by IgLou · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Paranoid idiots.

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    Oops, how did this get here?
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    1. Re:I think the UK should ban... by El · · Score: 5, Funny

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

      --

      "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  3. That Dilbert... by rd · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dilbert is too real to be funny anymore.

  4. come on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  5. Re:Shrug by legirons · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The popularity of camera phones has made it much easier to take illicit photos without permission."

    In other news, the installation of CCTV surveillance cameras every 50 f*ing metres has made it easier to take illicit photos without permission.

  6. Simple problem, simple solution by Weaselmancer · · Score: 5, Funny

    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!

    --
    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
  7. I want phones without cameras! by onyxruby · · Score: 5, Informative
    I recently had to replace my cell phone with another as the old unit was wearing out. I went into the Verizon store and explained that I needed a phone without a camera.

    They looked at me like I was on crack. I was shown the prepaid phones with an insinuation that I must be too cheap to afford the camera phones. I then had to explain that I was already a customer and had no interest in prepaid.

    They could not get past this point. After 20 minutes I finally got them to show me the phones they had that met my requirements. Tri-mode and no camera. They had 3 in the entire store left (large store btw) that met these requirements. One of these was a close out model that wasn't being made anymore.

    I tried explaining to them that I work in areas that a camera is NOT allowed in. I explained that turning the camera off wasn't going to cut it on a government or banking contract. They just didn't get it.

    I have to have a phone for my work. I can't have a camera, and I know I am far from alone.

    Verizon, Can you hear me now?

  8. Re:In Japan they make a sound by Karma+Farmer · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.