Device Seeks to Jam Covert Digital Photographers

Paparazzi and other snooping shutterbugs take note: Soon there may be a high-tech way to thwart digital cameras and to ensure some places remain photo-free zones.

Shwetak Patel, a Georgia Institute of Technology computer science graduate student, says he and his fellow researchers have developed a device that can detect the presence of digital imaging devices — including camcorders and cell phone cameras — and then blur the image by using simple blasts of light.

"The basic idea is that camera phones are becoming more and more ubiquitous. In Japan, it's something like 95 percent of [mobile] phones sold are camera phones," says Patel.

Because people are taking pictures where they didn't used to be able to in Japan, "there are a lot of places putting up 'no photography' signs."

Many museums, public security zones, locker rooms and other camera-sensitive places now try to bar or even confiscate camera equipment. But Patel and many privacy experts say such efforts aren't effective or practical against camera phones.

"In a research lab, for example, you can prohibit visitors from bringing in a camera or taking pictures. But how do you prevent someone from bringing in a [camera] phone that they might need for an important call?" asks Patel. "We wanted to develop a system that would allow the phone in, but disallow pictures."