Congressman intros bill requiring cameraphones to "click" for pics

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.

Comments on Congressman intros bill requiring cameraphones to "click" for pics

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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!

  • 7 Posted by fsuarez2005 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sadly, I don't own a cell phone, because I don't have a freakin' job. Priorities people, priorities.

  • 8 Posted by cyrusthevirus81@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    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

  • 10 Posted by metallica_fan_4ever on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    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?

  • 12 Posted by camaross427 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    it's great to know the govt cares more about pictures taken off phones of women then the economy...

  • 13 Posted by tpl6by@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    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..!!

  • 14 Posted by donaldhebert@ymail.com on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    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!!!!

  • 15 Posted by datonaspy1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Rediculous ~~~~~ Also, there are certain professionals that need a quiet camera to perform our business.

  • 16 Posted by calladus on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    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.

  • 17 Posted by datonaspy1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Rediculous. Also does this legislator not realize that it costs a great deal of money to enact and enforce these stupid rules?

  • 18 Posted by jones27530@ymail.com on Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Do you think criminals are so stupid as not to simpy open the case and snip the speaker wire????

  • 19 Posted by dgburns17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    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?

  • 20 Posted by maxiis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    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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