We are talking about up to $27,000 in fines and spending up to three years in the slammer here, according to an announcement by the Science Ministry. Of course, there is a reason behind this – models that sport Bluetooth connectivity integrated within which allows the user to release the smartphone shutter remotely instead of relying on a time are the ones under scrutiny here. These units were designated as communications equipment, since they make use of radio waves in order to deliver a wireless link between separate devices. Hence, they need to be tested as well as certified to make sure that they do not end up as a disruption to other devices which rely on a similar radio frequency.
It is not going to be an easy task to regulate the sale of these small, articulated monopods for sure, and what about those who bring it in as a tourist? An official at the ministry’s Central Radio Management Office, shared, “It’s not going to affect anything in any meaningful way, but it is nonetheless a telecommunication device subject to regulation, and that means we are obligated to crack down on uncertified ones.”