Should selfie sticks be regulated?

By Kim Se-jeong

A government move to regulate the manufacture of selfie sticks, a hot item for smartphone users, is drawing criticism that it runs counter to “deregulation” efforts being undertaken by President Park Geun-hye’s administration.

The government plans to set up safety standards for manufacturers and importers as well. Violators could be sentenced to three years in prison or fined up to 30 million won ($27,000). Users will be exempt from punishment, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIFP).

What concerns ministry officials are bluetooth-based selfie sticks, which have a built-in remote control that enables phone users to take pictures without using their phone’s photo timing device.

Almost none of the products on the market have obtained an “adaptability license,” which the MSIFP says is now required.

“The radio wave from these selfie sticks can potentially damage electric devices connected to them. All products will have to pass our adaptability test to be sold,” a ministry official said.

The IT industry experts, however, question the explanation, saying there is not enough data to prove any harmful effects.

The industry’s response to the government’s move is also negative, arguing that it has gone too far without fully checking safety issues.

“Regulators should accumulate cases where a selfie stick causes damage before taking any action. The regulation doesn’t seem flexible,” an industry source said. “In fact, the distance between the stick and smartphone is less than one meter at all times, he added indicating the damage, if it causes any, will only be trivial.”

There are two kinds of selfie stick: one with a button on the stick that sends a bluetooth signal to the phone, and one that just holds the smartphone. The former costs between 20,000 won ($18) and 40,000 won, while the latter can be bought for as little as 3,000 won.

Internationally, the stick is enjoying fame. Earlier this year, the Time magazine chose it as one of the 25 best inventions of 2014.