Cinemas and other public places in France will be allowed to install mobile phone jammers, following a decision on Monday. The French government approved the ruling on the condition that emergency calls from mobiles can get through.
Other public places, such as theatres and concert halls will also be allowed to stop people using their mobile phones.
What do you think of the decision? Should you be able to use your mobile phone in these public building or does it irritate you when other people use their phones in these areas? Send us your comments using the form.
This debate has now closed. Thank you for your comments.
Your comments:
Absolutely. Fantastic idea. I'm sorry, but if you think you might need to be contacted (e.g. you are on call) don't go to the cinema/theatre. We all managed before mobiles were invented/commonplace. And as for worrying that someone might have an accident. Well, I'm sorry, but that's life. Why do we need to be contactable 24 hours a day.
Katherine, London, UK
It's typical of society now that peer-pressure is no longer sufficient to stop people doing foolish/inconsiderate things. I'm broadly in favour of some sort of intervention for mobile phones, but would it not be a far better solution to have a system that sets the phones to silent in specific areas rather than blocking them outright. Technically this wouldn't be too difficult to do, as the phones/phone companies know where the devices are based on which mast has the strongest signal. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?!
Neil, London
How about a popcorn blocker? Or a noisy sweet-wrapper blocker? Or maybe a smelly hotdog blocker... Mobile phones are just another irritation when jammed into a chair for two hours sharing an armrest with someone you never met. And what about the risks to health of the radiation put out by a signal jammer? Oh no! I think I can feel a media frenzy coming on in a couple of years time!
Richard Little, Southampton This is a good idea but would be an even better solution to bring back the attendant who had an interest in helping customers enjoy their cinema going. Phones are not the only problem, ignorant people are the problem.
Adrian Shiel, London, UK
Yes, please get the phones out of our cinemas. If I pay �6-�8 to see a film I do not expect to have to listen to peoples phone calls at the same time.
Stephen Mortimer, Reading, UK
 |  The cinema lights up like a swarm of lava flies  |
Great idea. Even when the phones are on silent the cinema lights up like a swarm of lava flies as people tap out text messages. Get a life people and leave your phone at home.
Jason, Belfast
Well done the French. But given that the UK Government buckled under pressure from the powerful telecom's lobby and watered down our car phone legislation against the expert advice of the road safety authorities, I honestly can't see our lot getting through any legislation that might further restrict mobile phone use. The telecoms companies have too much at stake and they know that, like anti-smoking legislation, it would be the thin of the wedge. If theatregoers can be protected from antisocial mobile phone use, then why shouldn't diners in restaurants, churchgoers, children in school and - above all - passengers on public transport?
Richard, Horsham, UK
As a mother I would not go to the cinema if I was unable to receive a possible emergency call regarding the heath and wellbeing of my child. Just say there was a real emergency at the babysitters? Do you think I/others would even consider other peoples viewing over their own child or that this option of contact should be taken away?
Joanne, Birmingham
To Joanne in Birmingham: This just shows how dependent we are now on mobiles! Do you honestly think no parents went out before mobile phones? Of course they did but they'd give the babysitter the number of the place they were going so if necessary they could still be contacted. If you care so much about your kids why leave them at all? People did manage before mobiles believe it or not.
Lucy, London
I am against such force moves like this. People like to be told politely what they can and can't do, not being forced into it. I've rarely ever heard phones go off in the cinema - it's not half as much a problem as in other places like trains or restaurants - so I think it is a waste of time anyway. Just like the music industries are going the wrong way about treating piracy, they are now making enemies out of cinema goers.
John, Tiptree, UK
You don't see a public pay phone in a cinema or library etc, so why allow mobile phones? They're a nuisance to society, especially with all the stupid musical ring tones.
Brian, Lancs, UK
As a regular visitor to the cinema I would pay extra to view a film in an environment where people do not have food, films, slurpy drinks, and an ability to run around the cinema playing catch me games, throw items at the screen etc... Surly there is a market for people who want to go to see a film in peace. The other folk can go to a disco.
Dave, Leeds
The chances of my emigrating to France have just increased dramatically.
Adam, London, UK
| It's a storm in a tea cup for me |
Stupid idea. I've been to the cinema many times and never once heard anyone's mobile go off. Even if it did they have the film loud enough so you can still hear it. It's a storm in a tea cup for me. If someone is on the phone or the train and on their phone, so what, just eavesdrop on their conversation, could be quite interesting on a long boring train journey!
Andy, Birmingham, UK Fantastic. And for those who claim that they must always be reachable: get a pager that only vibrates (like the good old days) or sit by your phone at home!
Dominique Lecuyer, Prague, Czech Republic
If you're on call - then don't go to the cinema. As simple as that. I am on call 1 week in 3 and just elect not to go to the cinema on those days a) because I don't want my phone to ring and b) even if I had it on silent - I'm not going to risk wasting my money by having to leave the cinema if I'm called out! Bring on the jammers!
Emma, UK
| What is the difference between talking to the person next to you and talking to someone on the phone? |
Cinemas yes, but enough with the complaints about buses and trains. I try to converse quietly on my phone on the train or bus, just as I try to converse quietly with people I am sitting with. What, pray, is the difference on public transport between talking to the person next to you and talking to someone on the phone? Are we all going to be required to sit there silently with signs saying 'no conversation'?
Katherine, London, UK Good idea, but I have rarely noticed the problem. What is more a problem is people who talk during films. It used to be the case that people would whisper if they wanted to say something. Nowadays, a lot of people talk at their normal voice levels without the slightest consideration for those around them.
Spencer, Abingdon, UK
| Don't deny everyone else an escape from the outside world by subjecting them to your irritating trivialities |
Absolutely. I've yet to see a convincing argument for not jamming phones in that type of place: nobody's so important that they need to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and "needing" to receive calls "just in case" something "might" happen smacks of paranoia. Either go to the cinema and use it as a chance to disengage from the world and indulge in a spot of escapism, or don't. But in particular don't deny everyone else an escape from the outside world by subjecting them to your irritating trivialities.
Chris, Oxford It seems pathetic that this is being suggested when it would be much simpler, cheaper and more flexible for staff in these places to simply enforce the existing bans on mobile phones. That would allow people on call to receive urgent phone calls - or should those who are permanently on call, such as lifeboat crew, not be entitled to have any social life? Oh, and to those people who advocate blocking mobile phones in hospitals and aeroplanes because they can interfere with equipment, do you not think that the blocking equipment will cause the same problems?
Duncan, London, England
Market forces will decide. Allow private businesses to decide but ensure signs are clearly visible. I would go to cinema's and restaurants that installed them, other people wouldn't but the market should be allowed to decide not legislation preventing such devices.
Alistair, Leicestershire, UK
| Whatever happened to personal responsibility and plain good manners? |
I agree wholeheartedly but despair that such a drastic step is necessary. Whatever happened to personal responsibility and plain good manners? Few would object if phones were used for genuine emergencies or by those on call, but these situations are the exception rather than the rule - the reality is that most phone use in cinemas is by arrogant nits with no consideration for others.
Lucy Goddard, London, UK You can not turn back time - mobile phones are a fact of life, a little education is all that is required here, schools would be a good place to start this process.
Nigel, Northumberland
| The distracting little lights of the screens that shine in the dark |
If people cannot stand to be without their mobiles whilst at the cinema, then they shouldn't have gone in the first place. It's not so much the noise that is annoying, more the distracting little lights of the screens that shine in the dark.
Isabelle, Sheffield, UK If there are people like doctors who are on call 24/7 they shouldn't be spending time in cinemas, companies should have the right to say what does and doesn't happen on their property
Steve Wilson, Nottingham, England
Definitely a good thing. As for Doctors, Judges (?) etc. needing to be contacted during a film, what did they do before they had a mobile phone? Presumably someone used their initiative or someone else dealt with the problem.
Simon, Hornchurch
| If the French are doing it why not the rest of the EU? |
I definitely back an installation of mobile phone jammers in most public places. I live in Latvia now but I lived in Poland for three years and the Poles haven't caught on to the idea of mobile phone etiquette. It was very infuriating when you're watching a climactic part in a film and suddenly somebody's phone goes off and starts speaking loudly. If the French are doing it why not the rest of the EU?
Ben, Riga, Latvia Its a good idea. I don't think people intentionally use their phones in cinemas, but perhaps forget to switch them off. This would appear to be the solution.
Andy Bird, Cheshire, UK
This is a shocking idea, and should immediately be outlawed to send a clear signal to cinemas and the like. Whilst I would agree that causing "any" disruption in a cinema should be outlawed and punishable by a fine, it is every person's undeniable moral right to a presumption of innocence, and that the determination of guilt is made by a judge and jury. It is thoroughly reprehensible that cinema managers be allowed to act as judge, jury, and executioner or to pre-determine guilt by installing such devices.
Steve Sutton, St. Albans, UK
Can the government please ban mobile phone use in all public places, as it is much more annoying than smoking. And probably worse for our health too, if the truth be told.
A Jacks, Cambs
How about extending it to the so-called silent carriages in trains?
Alex, Bath
| What is shocking is that we need permission to take steps to improve our condition |
Isn't it amazing that cinemas would have to ask the state for permission to do this? Most French cinemas are owned by private companies so why is the state involved? What is shocking is that we need permission to take steps to improve our condition, like banning smoking or phones.
Mike, London, UK Yes, all right, so it's annoying when a couple of twelve-year-olds in the cinema start showing off their new ring tones to each other, but in general mobile 'phones help most people run their lives and keep up with their friends. I've sat through plenty of loud, irritating conversations on trains recently though: whinging, pompous Luddites going on about how terrible 'phones are, when they still presumably contact each other by telegram. Bah.
Joe, Oxford, UK
| The expense of installing these things will raise the cost of cinema tickets |
A terrible idea! As others have said, what about on call doctors? What about parents with young children at home with babysitters? Also the expense of installing these things will raise the cost of cinema tickets. Why not just have a policy where if you see someone using a phone they will be asked to leave. Then people would stop doing it.
Thomas, Birmingham Can we place this jammer on the bus, and in the restaurant, and in my local park, and in the supermarket, and in the library - in fact can we put the jammer around my town!
JCL, Hemel Hempstead
Yes please. It will be a blessing for all fans of classical opera and concerts to not be subjected to nuisance from "unusually" busy bodies spoiling the show for the rest. As for the arguments of ability to reach doctors and judges in emergencies - I am sure they can be provided with vibrating pagers.
Prabhat, UK
Fantastic idea. I'm sick of rude, inconsiderate people interrupting the arts in this country. Bring it on!
Mark, London, UK
About time. When do we get a government to act this sensibly?
Eddie, UK
| What I would really like to see is a stupid rude person jammer |
Brilliant idea! I went to a recent showing of 'Hero' in a local multiplex. Despite being advised at the start of the film that mobiles should be switched off, a good percentage of the audience felt it their duty to ruin the film for the rest of us by laughing, talking, and, yes, playing games and receiving calls on their mobiles! What I would really like to see is a 'stupid rude person' (SRP) jammer. Anyone who invented one of those would get a Nobel prize!
Pat, Nottingham Yes! How annoying is it to have that little green/blue light shining up like a beacon when someone is tapping out a text! It is either jammers or employ someone to stand at the front and forcibly eject people.
Sara, Cambs, UK
As long as emergency calls are allowed through, it seems like a good idea. What we need now are smoke detectors in non-smoking areas that blast the perpetrator with a jet of cold, fetid water.
Iain, Poole
With the technology available it would be possible to install a jammer in the viewing rooms themselves while leave the mobile working in the aisle ways and main auditorium leaving people space to make calls while not ruining the pleasure of the others who have paid money to watch a film without having to worry about peoples laziness annoying them.
Ryan, Wales, Cardiff
| They seem to think it's their God-given right to let their mobile trill out loud annoying ring tones |
Yes, yes and yes again. The selfishness of some people defies belief. They seem to think it's their God-given right to let their mobile trill out loud annoying ring tones and then yak away oblivious of their surroundings. It's about time someone took a stand against this behaviour, and I hope the UK government follows suit. Vive la France!
Mike S, Leeds I suspect many parents who leave their children in the care of a baby-sitter turn their phones on to vibrate in case of an emergency at home. As long as people use their mobiles sensibly there isn't a problem. What is a problem is that cinemas don't seem to be able to deal with persistent mobile callers during the film. Many stewards are not backed up by any security so is it any wonder they make up excuses to avoid a potentially aggressive or violent situation?
Brian Harte, Bradford
What a brilliant idea. People who allow their mobile telephones to ring during films, concerts and plays are downright rude. What did they do before they had mobile telephones?
Chris Klein, Chandlers Ford UK
| Sometimes being able to communicate at any time is very important |
So what happens if a member of your family is involved in a serious road accident for example at the start of a 3 hour film. It could be the last 3 hours of their lives. It is annoying but sometimes being able to communicate at any time is very important, that is why we have mobiles after all. Not a very clever idea, better to make sure all are on silent mode.
Neil D, B'ham UK Under what circumstance do you NEED to make a phone call in a cinema? Even if the place is on fire there's smoke detectors/fire alarms that will automatically call the fire service before you do. These jammers are a great idea and they should also fit them in half of all train carriages, planes & restaurants.
Peter, Nottingham, UK
This would discriminate against people, like myself, who are on call 24 hours a day and so need to be contactable at all times. Responsible phone users switch their phone to silent in such situations.
Lee, Newport, UK
Provided that three conditions are satisfied, I don't see why not. The conditions are: 1) emergency calls can be made out, 2) doctors on-call can still receive and 3) the jamming equipment doesn't affect those people outside the cinema.
Francisco, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Why stop at cinemas and concert halls, please, please, please let's have jamming devices in buses, trains, shops, restaurants. In fact, let's make it an offence to make mobile calls anywhere except in the privacy of one's own home or in specially provided booths. Gosh, here's an idea, we could call them telephone boxes!
Pauline Fothergill, Halifax, West Yorkshire Of course these places should be allowed to install jammers. People go to cinemas to watch films, not listen to someone next to them, babbling and beeping away on a mobile!
Andy, Leeds, UK
Absolutely! Is there a hand-held jammer I can carry around discreetly wherever I go?
Richard, London, UK
Great idea - we should follow suit. I'd also like to see jammers in those carriages on trains that have been designated mobile free and also for proprietors of restaurants to be able to install them if they want to.
Rob Lovett, Swindon, Wiltshire
I think jammers are a bit like cracking a nut with a sledgehammer. All these places need to do is implement a non-mobile policy and actually enforce it. Anyone caught breaking the rules should be ejected from the building.
Andy, Brighton, UK
Great idea. Cinemas, concert halls, theatres, trains, restaurants would be a good start. It's not so much the phones that are irritating as the people who insist on speaking so loudly that everyone can hear their conversation. I also hate those stupid ring tones - just a standard "ring, ring" is more than sufficient.
Ian, UK
Jamming mobile signals is a bad idea. What about people who are on-call like doctors? For cinemas people should simply leave the room to take or make a call.
Jason, London
They should use these phone jammers in hospitals, aeroplanes where it could interfere with the equipment, but it may be taking it a bit far with other public places. When I'm out, I have my mobile on silent, but it vibrates if I get a call or message - so no one else is bothered by it.
Joe, Canterbury, UK
| This is not the way to go |
Where will it stop. Your doctor or a judge may be needed to contacted urgently. To interfere will mobile phone signal may be an inconvenience for many, may cost a life for some. Phones need to be used responsibly. These devices now curse our lives, but we all should use them responsibly. Also what if someone was in trouble, and suffered because such a blocker. This is not the way to go.
Khalid , West Midlands I think phones should be jammed in cinemas and any public performance venue. It's rude, its disrespectful and a nuisance to others to put up with arrogant people who think they are more important than us. We pay to listen and watch, not put up with others bad behaviour. There are also pirates out there using this technology to steal performances, lock 'em up!
Don Oddy, London UK
Well done the French! I'm sick of having film shows at the local multiplex ruined by the anti-social few who think the requests to turn off their phones don't apply to them. The sooner jammers are installed in our cinemas the better. Can I also suggest jammers are used in hospitals too? Not only can phone use in hospitals be a nuisance, but the signals can interfere with hospital equipment too.
Fabian, UK
Just how did people manage to live their lives and conduct their social and business lives before mobile phones where invented?
Adrian Mugridge, Chester, UK
Hee hee - great idea! The constant jangling of mobiles in public areas is more annoying than smoking! First cinemas, then restaurants, buses, trains..... bliss!!
Jo, UK
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