A British firm is beta-testing new technology that jams the use of digital cameras in designated ‘wireless privacy zones’. The transmitter technology, developed by Iceberg Systems, is being promoted as a sophisticated alternative to the banning of digital cameras and camera mobile phones in certain areas, following concerns about their misuse by perverts and industrial spies. The Safe Haven technology uses hardware transmitters with a range of around 300 metres that deactivate the camera functionality of electronic devices, but continue to allow the user to operate other functions. Once outside the transmitter zone, the camera is reactivated. The success of the system is dependent on digital camera manufacturers adopting the technology and employing it in their devices so that they recognise the transmitter signal.
Iceberg says it is currently in discussions with leading mobile phone manufacturers. Many sport centres around Britain have already banned cameras and mobile phones from their premisies over paedophile concerns, and companies such as Samsung do not allow employees to bring them into their research and manufacturing facilities. Iceberg says that simply banning digital cameras will prove increasingly difficult as companies and sports facilities will have to collect and be responsible for them on the premises, and they will effectively be barring people from using their mobile phones.
British Journal of Photography – 1 October 2003
http://www.bjphoto.co.uk/cms/photo_news/344.shtml
as it happens …. Mobile phone jamming systems, unless by government agencies and approved by Home Secretary, are currently illegal in the UK.
As far as jamming digital cameras goes, this would require not just passive jamming but active scrambling which would need primary legislation to be allowed anywhere in Europe. Photographer groups should lobby very hard if this is ever proposed.
