Subject: [NEXTEL-1] Can you see me now No way Camera-phones get un-welcome.

From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 21:28:38 -0500

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/61FxlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 

SEARCH

Pick Newspaper
Advance Newspapers
Ann Arbor News
Bay City Times
Flint Journal
Grand Rapids Press
Jackson Citizen Patriot
Kalamazoo Gazette
Lansing Bureau
Muskegon Chronicle
Saginaw News

FIND A BUSINESS

INSIDE

News

» GR Press

» Town Talk

» Local Photos

» GR Photo Extra

» Today's Front Page

» Opinion

» Statewide News

» NewsFlash

» Death Notices

» Weather

SPEAK UP!

» News Talk

» Town Talk

» More Forums

» Log On to ChatXtra!

NEWSLETTERS

» Get free local news e-mail updates!
» More Newsletters

» Can You Out-Pick Poniers? Click Here!

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

» Win a Great Lakes Crossing Shopping & Museum Package!

» Refinance now and save with Rock Financial, the Mortgage Experts serving Michigan for 20 years.

» Advertise With Us

» More From The Grand Rapids Press

Top Stories

Can you see me now? No way: Camera-phones get un-welcome

Saturday, November 15, 2003

By Melissa Slager

The Grand Rapids Press

Getting changed for a workout at the Michigan Athletic Club, it's not uncommon for Joe Soper to hear the telltale signs of cell phones stored nearby.

"I'll hear someone's locker beeping and twerping," he said.

But now, with the latest wireless technology fad, there's the prospect that the ubiquitous devices may carry a built-in camera. And that gets folks like Soper a tad worried about the possibilities: "Seeing someone wandering around the men's room with one of these things?"

Creepy.

Fear of voyeurism and invasion of privacy has pushed some local health clubs to institute a ban on cell phones because of the new photo-taking abilities.

Area YMCA clubs have followed the national organization's recommendation and posted signs banning cell phones, since managers say it's hard to tell the difference between regular and camera phones. Local Ys already have a rule against photos being taken without permission.

Family Fitness Center in Holland also started a ban last week on cell phones in locker rooms and workout areas. Patrons still can field calls from the lobby.

"We haven't had any problems. But we wanted to be proactive rather than reactive -- especially considering the ramifications of someone taking a picture in a locker room and putting it on the Internet," said Karen Draeger, general manager of the facility that draws 1,300 members of all ages.

The local facilities join a growing number of health clubs nationwide banning camera phones, the latest in TV commercial culture and a rapid seller worldwide.

Other clubs, such as the MAC,where Soper works out, are holding off.

Though no incidents of camera-phone-using Peeping Toms have surfaced among health clubs, imagination and some real-life abuses in other countries are spurring the bans.

A chance to hold Big Brother in the palm of your hand has other groups reviewing policies, too.

Grand Rapids Public Schools upheld its policy on cell phones and pagers last summer when lawmakers lifted a statewide mandatory ban.

"We ban them because we think it's a safety issue -- and (now) a privacy issue with the cell phones capable of sending pictures," Public Safety Director Larry Johnson said.

Soper, administrator at the Grand Rapids District Court, says existing rules against photography and cell phone use should sufficiently cover the new technology at the 12-story building downtown.

But with the camera phones smaller than the average news media equipment, there are some worries -- photographing jurors' faces, for example, which is against the law. "There are people who will go out of their way to do what's not permitted simply because it's not permitted," he said.

And it can get more malicious than that, according to news reports elsewhere:

Authorities in Scotland have identified a pedophile ring that used the phones to exchange images.

In Japan, where camera phones have been in circulation since 2000, men taking pictures aimed up women's skirts has become a widespread problem, as well as "digital shoplifting" with people taking images of pages from books.

In Australia, camera phones that also can take video have been used on children at a community pool and in other crimes.

Spurring fears is that photos snapped from a cell phone can be sent to the Web within seconds. Images are of a low resolution, though quality is quickly improving with new models.

Estimates put the current number of camera phone users at 80 million, most in Asia and Europe. But with a marketing blitz and consumer curiosity, usage here is increasing -- and, of course, Christmas gift-giving is just weeks away.

"It's just the times and days we're living in," said Jay Moore, a local cell phone sales representative. says he understands the concerns of such businesses as health clubs -- and even factories or corporations worried about employees stealing snapshots of protected documents.

But staff at the Wireless City store on 44th Street SE stress the positive uses for the phones, which customers often buy to share special or fun moments with family and friends, he said.

"It takes a real negative mind to use anything -- whether it's a gun or anything -- in a negative way," Moore said. "With anything you're going to get positive and negative."

And not all are responding to the new technology with bans.

Grand Valley State University, Calvin College, Hope College, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan report no cell phone bans at fitness spots.

State privacy laws and common sense should be sufficient, said Vicki Hudson, spokeswoman for Grand Rapids Community College.

Starting a new policy also would face logistical roadblocks, Calvin College spokesman Phil de Haan said.

"You could have a varsity volleyball game playing on the main floor, a pick-up basketball game on one of the side gyms, people working out in the weight room and a class going on," he said. Where would you enforce the ban? How? And for who -- students, faculty, fans?"

Membership rules can make it easier for health clubs to manage any problems. "People don't just wander around," said Jen VerDuin, manager at the Powerhouse Gym in Holland.

But while the YWCA in downtown Grand Rapids has a policy banning cell phones from its weight room for safety and privacy concerns, the new camera phones are getting attention, spokeswoman Kelli Langan said.

"We're starting to investigate a formal policy and how to deal with that. It's a fairly new technology," she said.

"It's hard to keep up."

© 2003 Grand Rapids Press. Used with permission

» Send This Page | » Print This Page

MORE NEWS

» Another change: Teen awaits second heart transplant

» Squawky system keeps birds off GVSU building

» Entrepreneur seeks fine in campaign donation case

More Stories | 14-Day Archive | Complete MLive News Coverage

MORE FROM THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Today's News, Links & Archives

The Best Local Classifieds:
Jobs |
Autos | Real Estate | Place An Ad

Special Home Delivery Offers!
Ann Arbor News | Bay City Times | Flint Journal
Grand Rapids Press | Jackson Citizen Patriot | Kalamazoo Gazette
Muskegon Chronicle | Saginaw News

About Us | Help/Feedback | Advertise With Us

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement. Please read our Privacy Policy.
©2003 MLive.com. All Rights Reserved.