The Inquirer – Wednesday 13 December 2006:
A SYSTEM which will enable network operators to disable the camera function inside mobile handsets has been installed by leading operators in both Europe and North America.
The software is being supplied to both operators and leading telecoms integrators by software house, Mformation. Clients already include Telefonica, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Cingular and Rogers.
Basically, the system can turn off (or turn on) any application which runs inside the handset. This includes the camera function as well as picture messaging (MMS), Bluetooth and WiFi.
One major benefit for an organisation where photos snatched by a cameraphone can be commercially dangerous, is that regular employees will no longer have to surrender their handsets on entering a building.
The mobile network will sense the employee’s location and then temporarily disable the camera’s functionality via an OTA (Over-The-Air) message.
My prediction: The system will be implemented in all digital cameras. Laws will be passed making it illegal to bypass the system. (Actually, it probably already is illegal under the DMCA.) The police will start using this technology. Which means that it’ll essentially be illegal to take pictures of the police in action! Keep those film cameras guys, we’ll need them!
Always keep some analog devices around – we may need to go back to them.
Better keep your own film development lab too – it will probably soon be illegal for commercial labs to develop “unauthorized” pictures too, i.e. pix of police beating the crap out of the sheeple at a demonstration. Every developed picture will be recorded and monitored “for the children” or something.
Heil Bush!
The system will be implemented in all digital cameras.
Which would require all digital cameras of the future to have some form of wireless connection…
Don’t need to keep a film camera, just keep one of the current digital cameras – the majority of which don’t have any wireless connectivity capability.
Oh thank god, I hope they do this for all the phones. I’m soo limited as to what kind of phone I can have at work now.
I fear this will be the last Blackberry that comes without a camera.
I for one say w00t
“Which would require all digital cameras of the future to have some form of wireless connection…”
You’d have to admit that it would appear pointless to stop camera phones for security reasons while allowing other forms of tiny digital cameras to operate. Thus, the only way this system makes sense is if it applies to all cameras. If the only way this makes sense is to add technology to digital cameras, then that is what will happen.
I, for one, welcome our Big Brother overlords.
Sorry, I couldn’t help my self.
Saudi Arabia tried to ban cameras in mobile phones. They failed. This just ain’t gonna happen. I, for one, will not allow my carrier to disable anything in MY phone.
isn’t there a way to hack the camera to make the system think it’s turned it off, when really it’s just turned it on? It is scary how digital has enabled the power and control freaks… to the point where lots of products are just ruined. The number one reason i don’t own a HD-DVD or BRD.
FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD
#4 – Yes, and the reason all the world’s countries want to do this is because they watch the former “beacon of democracy” (now just a fascist theocracy) USA do these things and think “well it must be OK then!”
#10 – who benefits from this FUD? Intentionally sown FUD always serves the hidden agenda of someone – a politician, an MS or IBM, a cause…
#11 – Basing a “well it’s okay then” on U.S. practice makes sense only if the U.S. is held up as a positive standard of something. From a global point of view, Bush and neocons have pretty well disposed of any remnants of that kind of high regard. Governments want to do it because they can, not because the U.S. does it. Governments are about wielding power, which is its own reward. “Of, by and for the people” has always just been a comforting fiction dispensed to, as someone put it here, the sheeple.
This is the kind of thing that can cause cell phones to become a passing fancy. We lived without them before, so why are they so necessary now?
Which will create a market for hacked phones, foregoing profits to big corporate phone companies, capitalism at its best.
8: they can already turn on the GPS tracking in your phone without letting you know about it — how could they resist? They’ll never talk about it, but believe it, they can, at any schmuck police/intelligence agency’s secret request. And turn on your mic, without you knowing about it. Monitoring your text and voice traffic is already being done.
The precedent has been set with e911. Your phone is a computer controlled by the police and any corporation with money enough to get the government to coerce the police. Turning off your camera is trivial.
We are not moving to a police state — we’re moving to a prison state, a giant, open air prison where the police and Homeland Security are for all intents and purposes our guards and wardens. The difference between being in actual prisoner and a free man will be about where they permit you to go, rather than the rights you think you have.
If you want a positive alternative, let’s build open source handsets that use encrypted communications to a ridiculous degree; hook them up via wifi to any hot spot and create an ad-hoc voice and text network that 1- won’t be GPS enabled unless that is the user’s choice, and 2-can’t be monitored to the degree that the cell phone networks are. This is a trivial piece of hardware to implement. Frankly, our communications aren’t the government’s business.
I have an alternative to all this. Become a Police Officer or become part of government like the FBI, then you can be big brother. You will do the watching… Imagine having the latest gadgets and watching technology at your beck and call. Full speed ahead!! Where do I sign up??
#13 This is the kind of thing that can cause cell phones to become a passing fancy. We lived without them before, so why are they so necessary now?
This is a bit off-topic, but you asked — In the strictest sense, they aren’t necessary…
In my opinion, however, who in their right mind want to live without them? I hear plenty of anti-cell phone comments and cannot fathom where these borderline Luddite ideas come from.
Yes… other people can be annoying with the obnoxious pop-music and full blast ring tones and their endless babbling about trivial bullshit…
However, cell phones cut the cord between you and the traditional phone company. I prefer life without a land line. I like knowing I have access to a modern communication device when I travel that wasteland between cities, or that my geography does not dictate my ability to contact family, friends, or business associates.
Some say they don’t like being able to be called 24/7… To them i say, grow a pair. If I don’t want to talk, I ignore the call – or better yet, I can turn off the phone, much as I do in a movie theater.
As a libertarian, I hate government control, but LOVE government punishment. There are legitimate reasons why cameras should not exist everywhere, both in corporate R&D departments, and gym locker rooms.
So, I propose a new thought, non-proportional punishment. Take a picture in a gym locker room of a naked person (without their permission), life in prison. Copy a CD and sell it for 1/2 the price, million dollar fine (or life in prison).
Government control sucks, but is because there are lots of selfish, greedy and immoral people out there. So, fine with me, take away all controls, but punish the bastards who do wrong, punish them hard.
18. OFTLO: I am with Dick on this. I Friggin HATE cell phones, much as I hated the beeper (I know you guys are probably too young to remember those). I understand the convenience factor, I just dont see the need to have an electronic leash / government tracking device 24/7. Maybe I’ve been in tech support too long, spent too many hours on the phone, but not having a phone with me gives me a sense of freedom.
You really think not answering your phone or turning it off is a ballsy move. Sheesh.
18. Plus if you think the land that is between cities is wasteland, I do feel sorry for you. I grew up in the city, in my opinion, it sucks. I will take the mountains or desert any day.
Sorry to say,
that I have told many persons, that 90% of Tech advances, and Digital design is based on 1 WANT’, security and control.
More money is made ont he security for CD and DVDs then there is profit on the sale. Between encoding security and IRFD at the stores..
Do you really expect any difference from our governments??
If you dropped DVD/CD security you would probably save about $5-7 per product, AT LEAST.
The ages are changing, and small things Pass un-noticed, until its to late.
ECA – as far as the prices go… you are living in a dream world.
Just imagine this: police are about to break some demonstrators’ heads.
A quick call to HS central, and all the cell phones in the immediate camera range, deduced by some simple code identifying locations by e911 information, have their cameras disabled. Zing! No embarrassing shots of some grandmother getting smacked to the ground.
After “first amendment zones” have become so common that no one even cares about them, I have no, NO doubt that the above scenario will happen, and no one will care one whit.
Just imagine this: police are about to break some demonstrators’ heads.
A quick call to HS central, and all the cell phones in the immediate camera range, deduced by some simple code identifying locations by e911 information, have their cameras disabled. Zing! No embarrassing shots of some grandmother getting smacked to the ground.
After “first amendment zones” have become so common that no one even cares about them, I have no, NO doubt that the above scenario will happen, and no one will care.
@#12 The Apple iPhone benfits
My verizon phone is hacked anyways. aGPS is disable, PIX server has been modified to use a free server, the microSD card and bluetooth features have been re-enabled.
#20 and #21 – – 18. OFTLO: I am with Dick on this. I Friggin HATE cell phones, much as I hated the beeper (I know you guys are probably too young to remember those).
The beeper was/is a pretty dumb device. It was essential for the doctor on call, etc., but its biggest advantage was to alert you that someone wanted you to stop what you were doing and go find a phone.
I would never stop what I was doing – just leave a damn message on my answering machine and I’ll call you back before I sit down to watch a VHS tape (if that is what I choose to do).
I understand the convenience factor, I just dont see the need to have an electronic leash / government tracking device 24/7.
You and I both know that in foil hat paranoia is just that… The government is not tracking you. At least I hope the government isn’t tracking me. I’d have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the poor slob who is assigned the task of watching me get up, drive 5 miles to work, sit in a cube for 9 hours, get off work, go get a sandwich, go home, and go to sleep…
It’s only a leash if a) its your job to be accessable or b) you let it be.
To me, a leash restricts my mobility… like a corded land line.
Maybe I’ve been in tech support too long, spent too many hours on the phone, but not having a phone with me gives me a sense of freedom.
Well, like I said… It sure isn’t a necessity… And I’m not likely to get stuck on a mountain pass (I’m not likely to see a mountain) but it is nice to know that I can make contact with police / fire / ambulance / tow truck / hot chick I met on Nerve / dude with the weed / pizza delivery place / John C. Dvorak / your wife / whatever if I need to (and i admit, I don’t need to very often).
You really think not answering your phone or turning it off is a ballsy move. Sheesh.
It isn’t… but it is a lack of them that keeps you from being able to switch it off… if ya know what I’m saying 😉
18. Plus if you think the land that is between cities is wasteland, I do feel sorry for you. I grew up in the city, in my opinion, it sucks. I will take the mountains or desert any day.
I live in Indiana. I hope that will put that to rest…
Frankly, I drive between Seattle and Portland, or Baltimore and Philly, or even Atlanta and DC would be okay… But its just flat and empty out here… and I should be grateful because some folks live in Kansas… An important state… Salt of the Earth people… but what a lonely drive that is…
Like you, I love the mountains and the desert… But I’m trying to get work in Chicago again… I want to live where I can sell my car and go to a Jewish Deli actually run by actual Jews and see John malkovich at the Steppenwolf and where “Now showing in selected cities” means the theater around the corner… I’m an urbanite. I love the feel of concrete under my feel and diesal fumes in the air 🙂
OFTLO:A guy just came into my office wearing a cell phone on his ear. You know, the Cyborg thingy. I want to smack him, he is talking to himself and looking at me. Can I smack him now?
But seriously, I read where the govt is able to remotely activate the mic in your cell phone, or someone next to you and listen to your (boring) phone conversations. Yup, read it on CNET.
http://tinyurl.com/ymdnsy
“You and I both know that in foil hat paranoia is just that… The government is not tracking you.”
I’ll just be keeping that tinfoil hat handy, you know, in case I want to use that cell phone, or ONSTAR.
23,
you dont believe me…
try to copy a DVD/CD on your computer WITHOUt those nice hacks.
How about that RFID, thats in almost everything about $10…THINK it grew in the package??
Software encryption is VERY expencive, esp when you RENT it…which most companies DO, as then it becomes a Write-off, AND an extra you can charge for at the same time.
YES, I live in a dream, but Im a realist from HELL. And my dreams are nightmares in reality..
The recording industry is 40 years behind in tech. and you REALLy have to pull teeth to get them to change anything. Wonder WHY they stick with Stereo sound?? they cant figureout HOW to make headphones ANY OTHER WAY…they make music for portability, THEN only make it stereo… THEN they say your friend cant listen as its Against copyright laws…. they dont concern themselves with ANY other format that could Make there sound better. Or be able to put MORE music on a CD. They dont WANT to go to DVD format… they would have to Learn something Different, and buy NEW hardware. they had a FIT going to DAT, but STILL stay’d with STEREO…
And if you REALLY know your audio, you will realize that 5.1 surround is NOT very different from full positional QUAD Stereo from 30 years ago. ANd they STILL dont process music for it.
I understand they wont lower prices, as they can make ALOT of money…
But they DONT see…
drop the prices and they will sell MORE.
drop the prices and you will BREAK the thieves.
Drop the copy protection and SAVE MONEY, and MAKE more profit.
All they need do is drop $5…And they would have a MASS(about 10x) more sales.
THINK about it…
sence I havent bought a recent CD..Last one i checked had a STOP read in the Codec, on my computer.
Fine…
But the point is still, true.
there are only 3-4 costs to Any Album or DVD.
Security.
Distribution. I can make this CHEAP..
Advertising. which costs Way to much.
The real purpose of cellphones is to be able to communicate while not in the wasteland of a city.
What’s needed is a law that penalizes carriers for turning features off. I bouthgt a phone with a camera, they turn the camera off, they owe me cash for the loss of function.
(OFTL – A city is fun to play around in if it’s deserted. 😉 Driving just for the sake of driving is an act unto itself – no defined destination necessary, just a prescribed amount of mileage. Alone in the truck with 400mi. of open freeway in front of you – whohoo!)