With the fast development of economic reforms, high tech is entering every corner of the lives of everyday Chinese people. During the process, there are many unavoidable incidents. For example, the Shenzhen city government caused a controversy when they stated that they would work out how to enact laws to ban the camera phone. Because camera phones are lightweight and easy to carry, and due to the unclear situation of the Taiwan issue, the controversy is inevitably involved in politics.

According to a report in the Beijing Morning Post, the Shenzhen government’s Legal System Office stated that the ban on camera phones will be legally enforced when conditions permit. Apparently, this is the first time that an office of the Chinese legal system has determined how a camera phone can be misused, and intends to enact laws to ban camera phones.

Camera phones have become one of the most popular gadgets in recent years. Nevertheless, troubles have arisen along with their popularity. Chinese customs officials believe that the camera phone can be used for spying, which causes problems for tourists. In addition, cell phones and camera phones have been used for cheating during the national college entrance examinations. Currently, while Chinese officials are winning the anti-porn campaign, they have found that many pictures on porn web sites were taken using camera phones.

But the most sensitive topic of all is the Taiwan issue. The People’s Liberation Army is launching a massive military exercise along the coast. Some civilians and officials are concerned that if civilians can easily take pictures of these exercises, and send them overseas, they will no longer be state secrets.

During Shenzhen's Congress and the Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March, 11 representatives submitted a proposal to ban camera phones in order to protect civilian privacy. On June 29, these representatives received a response from Shenzhen government's Legal System Office. The main content of the response was: It is illegal to use a camera phone to infringe privacy rights and photographic copyrights. Victims can file lawsuits to seek compensation for psychological stress and the courts should accept such cases.

Mobile communications technology experts point out that while China does not yet have third generation wireless service, the third generation of cell phone service, including streaming audio and video services, will bring more headaches for the Chinese government.

However, military experts point out that military technology already uses the functionality of camera phones. For example, American spy satellites know everything about China’s military exercises. But people who care about China's security still believe that pictures taken on the ground are clearer than those taken from spy satellites, and it is harder to hide the exercises.

Legal scholars believe that the problems caused by camera phones are already covered by current legislative policies. Activities such as cheating during the national college entrance examinations, photographing female body parts, and spy activities are already forbidden by current policies, so there is no need to enact laws. Experts who are against the ban believe that if there is a law specifying situations where it is illegal to use a camera phone, it will deter those with bad motives. This controversy is bound to last a while.