Kuwait Bans Cameras With Big Lenses -- Because People Might Get Worried [Updated]

from the huh? dept

Wed, Nov 24th 2010 8:26am — Mike Masnick

Update: And, um, this story just got odder as the original article has been updated to state that the reporter got it flat out wrong, and no such ban has been instituted by the Kuwaiti government. I'm not exactly sure how one goes about getting such basic information totally wrong, but consider the rest of this post here for posterity, rather than accuracy.

This one is just confusing. According to the LA Times, Kuwait has announced that cameras with big lenses (i.e., DSLRs) are banned for use in public in the country -- with an exception for "journalism purposes." If it seems unclear as to why DSLRs were singled out, while smaller point-and-shoots and camera phones are allowed, it appears that folks in Kuwait don't understand it either. The best they can come up with is that many people haven't been "exposed to art," and won't know what a big camera is for.

What most Kuwaiti photographers have come to wonder is how such a decision could be reached by authorities, especially considering that digital cameras and cell phone cameras have the same abilities. What most people think of photography as a hobby has become a bit misguided due to the fact that the country has so little exposure to art. While using a DSLR, passersby may wonder if the camera is being used for the wrong reasons.... What often happens is that a big black camera tends to worry people. Taking a picture of a stranger would seem like much less of an issue if you were using a more discreet camera or even a cell phone.

If you thought some laws in the US didn't make much sense, at least you can be happy knowing that other countries are even more bizarre.

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Filed Under: bans, cameras, kuwait

29 Comments

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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 8:32am

They have size issues?
I use to have a problem with having a small one and all the professionals around me having large ones. Then I learned that my small one can do just about anything the large ones can do. Plus I can't afford the upgrade.
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Brian B. (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 8:43am

Cultural
It's much more likely to be a cultural issue than anything "weird". If you aren't used to having your picture taken as a culture, having strangers (ie. tourists) snapping shots of you and your loved ones can be intrusive.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 8:49am

Re: Cultural
Then wouldn't they ban ALL cameras in public? Or is this more "security theatre", just banning the big, scary cameras that people notice?
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Nov 2010 @ 8:50am

Re: They have size issues?
I like big lenses and I cannot lie...
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 8:56am

Re: Re: They have size issues?
you other photogs can't deny
when a girl walks in with an itty-bitty (camera) case
and a round lens in your face
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Dark Helmet (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:04am

Re: Re: Re: They have size issues?
You get SPRUNG,
Wanna get that shot,
Cuz you noticed that lighting was hot,

Now you're mad cuz it happens, it's common,
Some asshole's photobombin'....
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ComputerAddict (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:18am

Oh baby, I wanna get with you
And take your picture
My homeboys tried to warn me
But that cam you got gets police so horny
Ooh, Reflex Action
you say you wanna get in my shot
Well, move plz, pose plz
Can we all get in a Group Please...
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Berenerd (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:24am

Re: Re: Re: Re: They have size issues?
You people are so wrong in so many ways...why do I come here again?
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:37am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They have size issues?
(I love this crowd.)
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Bengie, 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:39am

Encore!
Encore!!!
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DS, 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:39am

Re: Re: Re: They have size issues?
Down with shoehorning.
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Josef Anvil (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:48am

RIAA perimeter breach
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NullOp, 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:55am

Laws
Laws don't always make sense. Its easy to take something and blow if way out of proportion and soon you've got a real scare going on. The media does this all the time. Its how they make their living! FUD is the bread and butter of journalism. This kind of thing is also favored by oppressive governments. Those that wish do as they please rather than follow the laws. Remember, if no one saw it, it didn't happen...
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:59am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They have size issues?
"why do I come here again?"

It's funny as hell? That's why I keep coming here.
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Bob, 24 Nov 2010 @ 10:34am

We flew into Aman, Jordan last year, and had to wait 45 minutes while they located a military officer to inspect our binoculars. We had two small, folding pair. The customs agent didn't seem to like the pair labeled "National Geographic". They did not seem concerned about my somewhat larger telephoto lens for my camera. Jordan does X-ray all incoming luggage.
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B, 24 Nov 2010 @ 11:43am

kuwaiti's are silly
I live in Kuwait currently working here. They are some of the most idiotic people I have ever dealt with. It doesn't surprise me they would make such a law. The majority of them are dessert people. They haven't gotten out of the stone age quite yet.
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Daemon_ZOGG (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 11:48am

"..while smaller point-and-shoots and camera phones are allowed.."
I think what they're trying to say is that Kuwait officials are probably suffering from a "size" inferiority complex. I'll let your imagination run wild with that one. ;D
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Nov 2010 @ 12:01pm

People who are confused as to why they would ban large lenses but not smaller cameras that have "basically the same capabilities" would likely be less confused that smaller cameras do not HAVE "basically the same capabilities".

Larger optics = higher maximum image quality.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Nov 2010 @ 12:02pm

Re:
edit: "less confused IF THEY LEARNED that..."
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Tommy, 24 Nov 2010 @ 12:22pm

"Lens-Envy"
It's a simple matter "Lens-Envy". The Kuwaitis are jealous of Americans going around their country shooting their big 9" Canons. while they are dinking around with their little point and shooters!
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 24 Nov 2010 @ 12:56pm

Re:
Nah, comparing my point and shoot with my dad's SLR (both 12.2MP), lighting does more to make a good or bad picture then a giant lens. When it comes to special stuff (fish eye, polarized) the lens is all important. For security or privacy fears, SLRs and point and shoots are exactly the same.
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Icoy, 24 Nov 2010 @ 9:26pm

Size doesn't matter!
Size doesnt matter if they want to ban the DSLR cameras then same thing with the small digital cameras...if Kuwait Govt not contented then ban all cellphones with cameras too, things getting worst? shutdown all the shops selling DSLR Cameras, they don't care about the tourist and the tourism industry though you can't even find any tourist spot in this ridiculous country.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Nov 2010 @ 11:04pm

seems weird but it would work against people who lug their slrs around which is weird anyway - why you so hardkore man? i'm with the kuwaitis
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Gene Cavanaugh, 26 Nov 2010 @ 11:02am

DSLR cameras
Didn't know that was what they are called, but one was used to hide explosives to kill a popular Afghan leader years ago, another was use to hide a gun to kill someone in a European country (I believe Yugoslavia) - but of course, there is no reason for such a law - we just said so, didn't we? And we is Americans, we is allowed to tell them furriners how to do things.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Nov 2010 @ 4:00pm

Re:
DSLRs are much better at certain tasks. DSLR video provides a much more appealing picture than consumer camcorders, and a full frame DSLR can take much nicer pictures than a point and shoot, all conditions being equal. However, aesthetic issues aside, if someone is taking a picture for practical purposes ("I want a picture of that person as he leaves the house.") there is little or no difference.
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nasch (profile), 27 Nov 2010 @ 6:12pm

Retraction
The Kuwait Times issued a retraction on the whole thing.

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MzAwMTg4ODg1
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Jake, 27 Nov 2010 @ 8:47pm

Actually, there's twisted kind of logic to it. It just requires you to accept as a fact that there are more terrorists and armed robbers in the world than people willing to spend that kind of money on a recreational activity. Given the kind of sums we're talking about, this might even be true.
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Paul Brook, 23 Dec 2013 @ 5:23am

Hold on...
I just don't understand. Was this in some way a ban on things that could potentially look like the scope of a sniper riffle?
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