http://www.canada.com/calgary/story....7-CAEA380C5E95
Camera phones raise privacy fears
Gadgets banned from change rooms
Tony Seskus
Calgary Herald
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Fears high-tech camera phones could be used to take photos of unsuspecting men and women in locker rooms has prompted the YWCA of Calgary to ban the gadgets from its change areas.
The downtown facility said it implemented the measure this week to protect the privacy of its 1,600 members and will require all picture-taking cellular phones to be turned in to the front desk.
The move also comes as Westside Recreation Centre this month banned the use of cellphones in its locker rooms. Both decisions follow restrictions set both overseas and in the United States by fitness clubs to guard against pedophiles taking photos in change areas.
"We looked at the issue and we decided that it definitely was a privacy concern," said Jan Bloemraad, general manager of the YWCA's fitness centre. "It's a concern . . . considering there have been a few issues in (other countries) of pictures showing up on the Web."
Calgary children's advocate Linda Pushor said the moves show "tremendous leadership."
Pushor added city hall should also investigate whether it needs to take such steps at its recreation facilities. At least one alderman agrees that it's worth a look.
"When people enter a city facility, they shouldn't have to worry about their privacy," said Ald. Craig Burrows. "I'd like to see what other cities are doing and even hear from the telecommunications (industry) about what they're doing."
Camera phones are the latest fad. They allow people to take digital photos that can be instantly mailed around the world.
But worries such state-of-the-art gadgetry could allow people to surreptitiously photograph children and adults in change rooms has spurred fitness clubs in several countries -- including Britain -- to take action.
In the Australian state of Victoria, for example, 110 YMCA facilities implemented a ban on cellphone use after a man pleaded guilty to filming young girls in a pool changing room in Melbourne.
Even in North America, where the camera phones are only beginning to take off, gyms and pools are taking action to guard against illegal activity. In the U.S., camera-equipped cellphones have been barred at all 300 clubs in the 24 Hour Fitness chain.
In Calgary, however, police have said they're not aware of any complaints of the phones being used in a criminal manner and neither the YMCA nor the city's leisure centres have policies on camera phones.
But the local YWCA and the Westside Recreation Centre said they wanted to take preventative action ahead of any problems.
"It has to do with protecting the privacy of your members," said Norma-Jean Hogg, managing director at Westside. "Now that we have technology that puts that at risk, we have to do whatever we can to mitigate that risk."
The centre is asking its members to shut off their phones before entering the change rooms. The rule -- which applies to all cellphones as an added precaution -- was put in place in the past two weeks.
The YWCA, with a downtown clientele of businessmen and women, will allow people to continue to take regular cellphones into the change rooms, but camera phones must be left with staff. The rules went into effect Sunday.
In communities where similar rules have been implemented, concerns remain about how well they can be enforced. Other critics say the rules are unfair and unwanted.
City staff said they would kick out anyone taking any kind of illicit pictures in locker rooms, but added there is no policy on camera phones.
Representatives of Canada's wireless industry said they do not believe such rules will harm demand for the camera phones.
Marc Choma, spokesman for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, said such measures are just an extension of current rules restricting photography in change rooms.
"It is not a ban on cellphones," he added.
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