Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:17AM EST
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Face to face with the worst economic crisis to face the nation in decades, our leaders are hard at work trying to come to America's aid. The latest legislative salvo? A bill that would require cameraphones to make a sound "audible within a reasonable radius of the phone whenever a photograph is taken with the camera in such phone."
The bill, called the Camera Phone Predator Alert Act, is the brainchild of New York's Peter King, and it's a response to the continued popularity of voyeuristic photos snapped on the sly by those darn kids. King specifically cites adolescents being spied upon "in dressing rooms and public places" in the draft of the bill.
As well, Wired notes that a similar law is already on the books in Japan, where such behavior is practically a national pastime.
But, as Wired also notes, the prospects for King's stateside bill doesn't look entirely rosy. He has no co-sponsor for the action and, a smattering of press reports aside, there hasn't been much interest in the legislation at all.
One supposes that Congress may have other matters at the top of its mind right now than phone-wielding peeping Toms. Just a hunch.
Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
Sadly, I don't own a cell phone, because I don't have a freakin' job. Priorities people, priorities.
ok so they make a law saying the phone has to make a sound when it takes a picture well its not hard to cover the speaker with your finger or a piece of scotch tape and if the person is really determined you can take the phone apart and disconnect the speaker completely
Typical retarded politician.
Isn't this already a law? I know that any new phone that has the sound enabled, by default, can have it disabled manually. I have not seen a phone, in the last 7-8 years that could not have it removed or disabled. One way or another, good or bad, predators will find a way to take pictures. Does this also mean that video cameras that take stills have to have a shutter sound, too?
so... How much does this Congressman get paid?
it's great to know the govt cares more about pictures taken off phones of women then the economy...
I see people on Cell Phones driving cars every day..even cars in a row--all talking on the Cell Phone...in the City that I live--there are Cell Phone--operators working to track the Police on their daily rounds..and even decoys useing Fake-Cell Phones..there's a couple of men taking Cell Phone(vid)or(pics)while driving their pick-up trucks..and they are driving quite fast../..for the people that can't seem to enjoy a hobby with-out ruining it--the Cell Phone should contain a circular LED(around)the LENS(area)..that LIGHTS-UP when in use/..why should we be confronted with listening for a CLICKING-noise--besides the fact that so many lawyer's can't find clients--we know have a debacle in the AIR--for a slow economy--just use a Indicator(lite)..Give Me A Break..!!
What is the matter with the people,we are in a free world or it is suposed to be.We have to many laws now,we don,t need more!!Freedom is something we use to know and soon we will be told the color of sox,s to where. The late great free world is going and the cops are becoming like hitler,s men.We need ww3 to end this madness and it,s coming!!!!
Rediculous ~~~~~ Also, there are certain professionals that need a quiet camera to perform our business.
Yea, that will work. A high tech solution that could be foiled with a low tech piece of bubblegum over the speaker port. Next will be a bill to require VCRs to flash 12:00 until they are set correctly.
Rediculous. Also does this legislator not realize that it costs a great deal of money to enact and enforce these stupid rules?
Do you think criminals are so stupid as not to simpy open the case and snip the speaker wire????
Really, congratulations to the fools who elected this even bigger fool to Congress. Really, don't our Congress-critters have far more important things to worry about? Besides, this won't solve a thing since practically every digital point-n-shoot can be made to take "silent" pictures, and what about all the myriad of video recording devices that for YEARS have mode no noise?
its funny how republicans are for privacy and fiscal responsibility now adays.why dont they just tap the phones to see whats there?call it home land security.and there your change.
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6 Posted by thebes42 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:03PM EDT Report Abuse
Downsizing the Government to the point that we can drown it in a bathtub, if we ever need to.... beginning to sound like a pretty good idea actually!