Global sales of mobile phones that can take, send and receive
digital colour photographs are accelerating, despite
interoperability problems, and picture quality limitations.
Due to their size and ease of use, camera phones can go
unnoticed in places where conventional cameras are not allowed.
Accordingly, many gyms and swimming pools have decided to ban
camera phones from changing rooms. In Japan, Singapore and China,
such bans have been extended to schools and government buildings
and have been enforced by authorities. Saudi Arabia has banned the
use of camera phones altogether.
According to Jack Gold of META Group, camera phones represent a
significant liability or security risk to business. They can, he
warns, easily be used for the transfer of confidential business
information and industrial know-how. In July this year, Samsung, a
camera phone manufacturer, banned the use of the devices within
some of its factories for this very reason.
Less obvious perhaps is the problem of harassment. E-mail
harassment, unheard of a few years ago, is now recognised by courts
and tribunals as an actionable form of behaviour by employees. The
taking and distribution f photographs in the workplace without
consent could be regarded in the same light.
Gold warned, "A clear policy of no camera-enabled phones (just
as there is a clear policy in most companies that no cameras are
allowed on the premises) is required and desirable." He added, "All
employees should be made aware of the policy and be called on to
actively enforce it throughout the workplace.
Organisations should ensure that the camera function is disabled
or omitted on company phones given to employees, and that phones
should be inspected before visitors and employees are permitted to
enter company premises.
Secure organisations, such as government agencies, should
carefully screen all mobile devices, including PDAs, for cameras,
said Gold.
