May 29, 2006 | Sex & Society

Cambodia bans video phones

The prime minister of Cambodia is one whipped head of state. He announced Friday a ban on the use of video-enabled mobile phones. Why? Because his wife thinks they might encourage the spread of porn. 

Cambodians are crazy for camera and video phones, but Prime Minister Hun Sen has said his country will have to wait another decade to use them.

"Maybe we can wait for another 10 years or so until we have done enough to strengthen the morality of our society," he said, according to BBC News.

The prime minister was responding to a petition filed by his wife, Bun Rany, on May 19. She said that the phones could have "negative consequences for social morality" and worried that they might cause a spike in the "sexual exploitation of women and children and other vices that would cast our society as a very dark one."

While Cambodia has a reputation for sex tourism and underage prostitution there has never been any proof that these social ills could be countered by restricting technology.

Time to loosen the old ball and chain, Mr. Prime Minister -- before Bun has you banning cameras  and printing presses too!

• Porn fear sparks Cambodia 3G ban [BBC]