By
Graham Davis
Should
Santa Claus leave a mobile phone with picture-taking capabilities
as a gift this Christmas, please be very careful where you take
it and where you use it.
The Defence Security Authority (DSA), in a recently published
alert headlined “When a Picture Speaks a Thousand Words”
reported: “Defence policy relating to mobile phones with
picture-taking capabilities has been clarified in Defence Security
Instruction (DSI) 7/2003.
“However, before considering the effect of that DSI it is
worth noting that both the Crimes Act and Defence Act already
contain provisions prohibiting unauthorised persons from photographing
Defence establishments and projects.”
DSI 7/2003 addresses security concerns arising where personal
electronic devices (PEDs) such as mobile phones and certain wristwatches
have photographic and audio recording capability, the Authority
alert continues.
“The instruction re-affirms existing security policy whereby
any device with a photographic recording capability should be
treated as if it were a camera.
“It doesn’t matter that the device is primarily a telephone,
wristwatch or a PDA.
“The degree of control exerted over these items will depend
on the nature and sensitivity of work carried out within any given
Defence area.
“That is to say, in some areas they can be carried freely,
whereas in others they will be classed as a restricted item.
“How these items are treated in your unit will be determined
by your commander or manager who maintains a list of restricted
items.
“A record of this list can be found in your Unit Security
Standing Orders (USSO).
“The Unit Security Officer is responsible for the maintenance
of the USSO and you should request to read them if you have not
done so in the past 12 months,” the Authority recommends.
DSA
can be contacted direct on 6266 2605.
