Cellular Camera Phones – Privacy And Security Concerns

The good news is that cellular camera phones are small and you can take them anywhere. The bad news is that cellular camera phones are small and you can take them anywhere! This good news/bad news scenario comes as the technology that supports both still and video photography from cell phones continues to advance and society is now trying to figure out how to address growing privacy concerns.

Cell phone cameras are being used in public and not-so-public places to take pictures of unsuspecting people who have no idea that their picture is being taken. There is growing concern about the use of cell phone cameras in places such as locker rooms, playgrounds or restrooms and some people worry that cell phone cameras can also be used as tools of corporate spying. Not only is a person’s physical privacy at risk, but camera phones (more) can be used as a corporate threat to photograph proprietary documents, equipment and technology.

Some countries are now requiring that camera phones make a clicking noise each time they snap a photo, but according to hacker sites on the Internet, clicking devices are not all that difficult to mute or disable.

Sensaura, an audio IP licensing firm, and Iceberg Systems, a developer of Internet and mobile technology, are working on a technology platform that they believe could solve the privacy concerns related to camera phones, called Safe Haven. Safe Haven is capable of disabling cell phone cameras and other types of digital cameras within a certain radius leaving other functions of the cell phone operational. This new technology would allow cameras to be disabled at venues such as swimming pools, gyms and office buildings.

Although the Safe Haven platform has not yet been approved for use, with growing privacy and security concerns something will need to be put in place as soon as possible.

Also see; cell phone law.

Author Notes:

Jack Adams contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.cell-phones-n-plans.com. A cell phone industry resource that features service plan comparisons, cellular phone reviews and articles.