U.S. Air Force bans camera phones in restricted areas

A columnist in The Washington Post today writes that the United States Air Force has issued an alert about camera phones and is banning them in all restricted areas. Frankly, this is no big deal. As I've written many times, corporations and organizations that have legitimate security concerns should ban camera phones as well as other devices that could compromise security.

According to the article, the Air Force Communications Agency yesterday banned camera phones from Air Force offices that handle classified information. I wonder if that means you can't bring a camera phone into the entire facility or whether you just can't bring it into a restricted area.

The U.S. National Security Agency says camera phones "pose an unacceptable security risk to homeland security."

The Washington Post columnist, Stephen Barr, writes in his "Federal Diary" column that Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma issued a press release last week about the Air Force's concerns. I found the press release on the U.S. Air Force's main Web site.

I thought it was interesting so I am including the entire release

Tinker Air Force Base camera phone warning

Camera phones pose risk to security

by Master Sgt. Darrell Lewis
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Public Affairs

1/26/2004 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) -- Carrying the latest "have-to-have" electronic gadget may mean big trouble for the person who brings it into unauthorized locations.

Officials from the National Security Agency said in an advisory that new cellular phones with integral digital cameras pose an unacceptable security risk to homeland security. This type of phone is not authorized for use or possession within any Air Force facility processing classified information.

"Communications are getting faster and easier," said Jane Guidicini, Air Force Communications Agency certified emission security technical authority. "While that does help speed communications, it can also unfortunately allow classified information to get out of a classified area inadvertently or otherwise.

"We realize occasionally the restrictions might seem overly strict when the new technologies come out, but it's better to be overly cautious than to have an incident," Ms. Guidicini said.

"It takes just a little common sense to realize that if you have a cell phone with a camera, you should leave it home if you work in a classified area," said Tech. Sgt. Shon Kloepping, 72nd Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of physical security.

If someone in a restricted area has one of the phones with a camera capability and a security forces troop discovers it, he or she would be forced to confiscate the camera for review of unlawful images, Sergeant Kloepping said.

Additionally, civilian employees could face federal charges and military members could face federal charges and Uniform Code of Military Justice actions, he said.

But it is not just a good idea to limit their use in "secure rooms" where classified information is being processed, said Peter Bryant, Air Force Materiel Command security forces directorate information security chief.

"You should watch how you use and carry those anywhere you're dealing with sensitive or proprietary information," he said.

If people see someone using any unauthorized camera without coordinating with base agencies, contact the base security forces squadron, Mr. Bryant said.

"It all comes down to being aware," Sergeant Kloepping said. (Courtesy of AFMC News Service)

An extension of existing policies

Air Force facilities already ask people entering restricted areas to turn off their cellular phones or leave them outside. The ban on camera phones is just an extension of this policy.

As I've also written before, companies and organizations with legitimate concerns already have policies for dealing with devices that are potential security threats.

My concern is that organizations without legitimate reasons to ban camera phones -- such as corporations afraid their male employees will take photos of women in bathrooms -- are banning these phones instead of providing employee education.