Saudi phone ban may be lifted

Saudi Arabia is reportedly thinking of lifting its ban on the use of mobile phones with built-in cameras.

The country banned citizens from using such phones in late September, following fears that they were being used to take and distribute inappropriate photographs of women.

But according to CNN, a committee made up of the country's Interior, Telecoms, Trade and Finance ministries has been set up to discuss the selling and importing of hi-tech gadgets.

This could see the return of phones with built-in cameras to Saudi shops.

Although their use is banned, there is currently a healthy black market in the handsets, with people buying them in neighbouring countries and reselling them for huge profits in Saudi Arabia.

Just recently a teacher caught female students using a camera phone to take pictures of classmates. The phone was confiscated and the students signed a pledge agreeing not to repeat their hi-tech actions.

See also:

Saudi government bans camera phones

Handsets apparently being used to take pictures of women  01 Oct 2002

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