DSLR Ban in Kuwait for all non-Press persons

The ban will not affect small ‘standard’ digital cameras, in theory. But in all honesty, who would be willing to go in public taking shots with a digital camera and risk having to explain the differences between DSLR and non-DSLR cameras to angry Kuwaiti authorities? I for one certainly would not.
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"No, no, no Mr. Kuwaiti Officer, this is a Leica M9 rangefinder. It means there isn't a single lens reflex mirror shutter... so technically-"

-Kuwaiti officer takes camera and stomps it to pieces on the ground.
 
wow. i was born there. i remember it blowing. sad that it still does blow. i don't understand. here its rough coz security is way high. there its looking like extreme conservativeness. thank heavens im in beirut.
 
"thank heavens im in beirut."

Title of your next film???

So better high security than extreme conservativeness?
 
Hmm, this is actually common in places in Europe and even London. Anything that looks professional you need a permit. They can make a lot $$$ on these permits. Even taking photos of certain buildings require you to pay a licensing fee for commercial use -- like anything by Frank Lloyd Wright for example.

Keep in mind that anyone can register as a photo journalist in Kuwait, you just need to pay the fee. I think people blow these things out of proportion and view it as some form of censorship.

American TSA agents however have no issues confiscating cameras lately if you start filming them.
 
vagarob said:
Hmm, this is actually common in places in Europe and even London. Anything that looks professional you need a permit. They can make a lot $$$ on these permits. Even taking photos of certain buildings require you to pay a licensing fee for commercial use -- like anything by Frank Lloyd Wright for example.

Keep in mind that anyone can register as a photo journalist in Kuwait, you just need to pay the fee. I think people blow these things out of proportion and view it as some form of censorship.

American TSA agents however have no issues confiscating cameras lately if you start filming them.
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The examples you give regarding London and Europe is not commonplace nor similar to what is happening here, nor do they get as specific or far reaching as all DSLR cameras. Any tourist with the slightest shutterbug inclination will be touting a DSLR.

Do you really think banning the use of DSLR's but allowing them only to registered members of the press is not censorship? Sure, it's not as extreme as other historical censorship laws but I can't imagine any legit reasons to enact a law like this without any intentions of censorship.
 
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Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
The examples you give regarding London and Europe is not commonplace nor similar to what is happening here, nor do they get as specific or far reaching as all DSLR cameras. Any tourist with the slightest shutterbug inclination will be touting a DSLR.

Do you really think banning the use of DSLR's but allowing them only to registered members of the press is not censorship? Sure, it's not as extreme as other historical censorship laws but I can't imagine any legit reasons to enact a law like this without any intentions of censorship.
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No, i do not think its censorship i think its ignorance of technology. There is a difference.

This has to do with a law on permits for professional equipment. Kuwait just happens to place DSLRs into that group.

They are not saying you cannot use a DSLR or take a photograph with one, they just want you to register a permit.

There are millions of crazy laws like this over the world (and many in the west). As a Canadian I look at some of the USA laws and think wow.

Kuwait is a democratic sovereign country, i think its a bit far-fetched to think they are imposing censorship on photographers.

In regards to London and most of Europe. Yes, they do require permits for what they deem professional looking equipment -- usually the dslr mounted on a lowly tripod.

* Another thing to note. You can buy DSLRs in Kuwait, and you can use them on private property you just cannot use them in public spaces without a required permit.
 
"All Kuwait news media must obtain licences from the Ministry of Information, which regulates the publishing industry. A 2010 report on press freedom by campaign group Reporters without Borders gave Kuwait the top ranking among all Gulf states in terms of the freedom of its newspapers."

I hate to mention this, but Israel is listed below Kuwait in terms of freedom of speech and open journalism. Makes you think...
 
So then, what is the advantage of this? To gain money? Is it as simple as that?

If so, that doesn't change the fact that the extra-step of asking for a permit does in fact allow for anyone in the ministry of information to execute censorship by denying permits to those they don't deem worthy. It (this system) may or may not be used or designed for this purpose, but surely it opens a loop-hole for legal censorship via the granting or denial of such permits... and if I've learned anything on this earth, there will be people who will recognize this and try to use it for advantage.

Also, having to pay for the freedom of taking public photographs on a camera that has become commonplace for even amateurs does discriminate and thus can censor groups of people in social-economical classes where filing for permits or paying fees is not easy or possible.


Your statement of technological ignorance could be the issue. Perhaps the policy makers don't realize that DSLR's are as cheap or accessible as they are. Canon Rebel T2i's are what, $450? Something in that ballpark? That's nothing... especially to a professional. If you think they are simply trying to make money off of professional photographers, they are in a futile conundrum. SLR cameras (celluloid film), rangefinders, and the evermore professional medium and large format cameras are still available.

Who knows what these guys are doing, but either way, censorship or greed, they are being idiots.

And this does not just extend to them. Nor do I target just them. There are laws in the United States and other Western culture communities regarding photography that I do not agree with. As far as ranking amoung the gulf states, I don't give Kuwait a big pat on the back for being better than countries like Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and etc. None of those countries exemplify the ideal free state for artists or journalists, despite some being better than others.
 
I just think people are too quick to throw out the censorship card especially when it comes to gulf or predominantly Muslim countries. I'm a white agnostic Canadian.. so I'm pretty neutral on this :)

In Kuwait:
- DSLRs are not banned.
- DSLRs can be purchased
- DSLRs can be used on private property
- DSLRs require a permit only for public use *
- Permits would presumingly be denied for the same reasons they would be in the USA (can't use this location, etc).
- All other non-dslr cameras do not require a permit.

* Western Countries have similar laws, only they deem a professional setup differently (like i said, tripod + dslr or large video camera). This is a (admittedly stupid) way to separate who requires a permit for professional use. Just like when I was asked to leave an area (In Vancouver) with my small tripod but not with a Steadicam Merlin.

Finally... this report came out of Kuwait Times... my photographer friends who live in Kuwait city rate this paper as we would say.. the Drudge Report. For the record, there is yet no official statement or press release from the Kuwaiti government on this .. so no one really knows where they got their information. He said this has always been the case of having to register for permits in public places.
 
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