Samsung bans camera phones in workplace

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2003/07/05/200307050052.asp

The Korea Herald
insight () heraldm com
July 7, 2003 

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest chipmaker, yesterday said it
would block employees and visitors from bringing their camera phones
into semiconductor, flat-panel and electronics factories.

The ban will be effective from July 14, a sweeping measure that will
affect major factories and work places of Samsung, which is keen to
protect its cutting-edge technologies against industrial espionage.

Ironically, Samsung is the leading maker of high-end camera phones,
dominating the domestic market and spearheading innovation in the
global mobile handset industry.

But the company seems to have no other choice. The fast penetration of
high-powered camera phones is now fueling worries over leakage of
corporate information and industrial know-how.

"Some pointed out that this is a violation of individuals' rights to
purchase and own camera phones, but the concern about possible leakage
of core technologies is so great that we have decided to ban camera
phones in the workplace," a Samsung executive said.

Late last month, Samsung's working-level officials in charge of
corporate security held a meeting and agreed to go ahead with the ban
of handsets equipped with digital cameras.

But the Gumi factory will be excluded from the company-wide ban as it
produces mobile handsets including camera phone models.

In fact, Samsung has enforced a ban on handsets that can be used as
cameras in some of its workplaces since February.

Some executives expressed concerns about the negative impact of the
ban in terms of its camera phone sales. Samsung is now one of the
leading electronics makers in the world, with its moves affecting
competitors both at home and abroad.

The Korean government is also mulling over a ban on camera phones in
public places like swimming pools as concerns over privacy have been
mounting in recent months.



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