Sorry, but it’s true. There is absolutely no viable reason a camera phone should be able to silently snap a picture that outweighs the privacy issues camera phones have brought about. If after reading that last sentence you find yourself scanning your mind in search of a way to refute it, you’re probably a scumbag and you should seek help. The go-to argument for silent camera phones, the ability to assist law enforcement by photographing a crime, is a bad one. If you see a crime taking place you should either dial 911 and try to help any victims if it is safe to do so, or leave the scene and dial 911. Laws already exist in several countries around the world requiring that all camera phones make a sound when they snap a photograph and the reasoning is fairly obvious – help prevent perverts like Captain Corona pictured above from taking lewd photos of unsuspecting women. Enter the Camera Phone Predator Alert Act. New York Rep Pete King introduced the bill to the House earlier this month and we hope for a swift approval for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that there are plenty of more pressing matters at hand. Approving a bill that will “require any mobile phone containing a digital camera to sound a tone whenever a photograph is taken” should be a no-brainer. We’d like to add however, that a minimum decibel level for said tone should be also specified and required – there is no sense in having a tone if it’s inaudible.
[Via cnet]
