CellPhoneCams

[mmcd3182]

Since now almost everyone has a 2 MP camera and a video camera on their cell phone -- is this going to 'bring to light' a lot of things that used to be 'my word against his word'? I think in some ways, it's a good thing -- because video usually doesn't lie.

Some current threads just on DemopolisLive: The student who was repeatedly tazered by campus security, which was caught on camera phone. Also, Michael Richards (Kramer)'s current racist comments.

You also hear in the past about perverts taking them into the bathroom and taking candid photos of people while they're takin care of business, etc.

What are your opinions on this? Is it nearing more towards invasion of privacy (people using them in public bathrooms, stalking), or do you think it will be a good thing to provide evidence against people doing bad things?

It seems to me that it's a double edged sword. Could it lead to prohibiting use of cell phones in sports arena's, concerts, malls, doctor's offices, etc. Which would be a serious pain!

[rct444]

I know in some places they have already banned cell phones with cameras and video and sound reccorders well i have mainly run into this at concerts and touring car plants, which i can see why they ban them due to musicians recording video and cds and also in car plants have "top secret" car proto types, and as far as the people taking pics and videos of others taking care of business in the bathroom thats just wrong and the person videoing/taking pictures needs to be checked in to the local mental place and slapped with a heafty fine if the person who is taking care of business dosent react with a butt kicking first, but as far as the student getting tazed i think that the video/picture on phone would come in handy in the trial if there is one. Anything like a camera phone can be used for good but you also have alot of people who will use them for other things which are not so good. I think they should treat camera phones like they do hand guns, if someone has a record of taking pics/videos of people that are taking care of business they should not be able to buy a camera phone just like anyone with a serious record is not able to purchase a hand gun leagly and if they do they go to jail, but as things are going in this world this will never happen so I guess we will just have to bite the bullet and live with it.

[mmcd3182]

Yeah, but anyone can buy a camera -- disposable... for almost nothing. Guns kill people -- cameras don't lol.

Well everyone's heard of a hidden camera story -- mostly with babysitters or a cheating spouse, but there are also those who set them up in apartment bathrooms before tennants move in, etc etc etc. Some people are just sick. AND they do this to sell to people on the internet -- even sicker people!

[trezhamayn]

at my gym there are signs posted in the changing room: Due to privacy concerns, no camera or video record functions are allowed to be used in the locker rooms to ensure your safety. I think that cellphone cams are a little bit unpractical when it comes to clandestine recording of unsuspecting people, but it does come in handy when capturing melees, fracasses, and stand-up racial tirades. As for its effectiveness in deterring crime or prosecuting crime, I think it should be used just as any other piece of evidence. If the picture does not CLEARLY show a crime in effect and CLEARLY show the culprit, it should not be the smoking gun. The technology is rapidly improving, but it's a lot like watching security tapes from the old days; you can see something there but most of the time it's too grainy or the lighting is too bad to make out a face.