An upskirt warning poster in a subway station outside Tokyo. Photo by Jeff Epp.
Occasionally, technology will create some unintended consequences. In Japan, one such consequence has been men sneaking inappropriate pictures of unsuspecting women with their camera phones.
In an attempt to combat such illicit behavior, Japanese mobile phone restrictions have mandated that a shutter sound be implemented into all mobile devices to alert those around you that a picture is being taken.
Alan Patrick reports that “the loud shutter sound is supposed to deter voyeurs from taking sneaky pictures up women’s’ skirts — or down their tops. In Japan, upskirt and downblouse shots have become increasingly popular with the advent of high-resolution camera phones. As a result, all cell phones sold in Japan make a conspicuous shutter sound, or say the word “cheese” when a snap is taken.”
Japanese journalist Nobuyuki Hayashi, has noted that Apple has implemented the sound effect into the iPhone 3G as a permanent fixture and cannot ever be turned off or muted.
The shutter in the first generation iPhone that sold in Japan could be muted, making the function a bit obsolete. This time around, voyeurs will find it difficult to continue pursuing such extracurricular activities.
