A news report in the Kuwait Times says that the Kuwaiti Government has decided that the use of SLR cameras in public places should be banned – except for use by registered journalists. You can still use a pocket camera or a camera-equipped cellphone, which makes the ban seem rather pointless, if the idea is to protect privacy or national security. Since it’s probably fair to say that there aren’t many full-time paparazzi in Kuwait, it’s local hobbyists, tourists and professional social photographers who are likely to be most affected.

Kuwait is of course a conservative society, where you might expect laws to be a bit more draconian than we are used to in the West. But it’s a thought-provoking development, nevertheless – police and security personnel in other countries have been known to demand film or memory cards from photographers who are taking photos quite legally and legitimately in public places…

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