Visitors are advised to restrict photography to private gatherings. Explicit permission from the Guinean government should be obtained before photographing military and transportation facilities, government buildings or public works. Taking a photograph without permission in any public area may provoke a response from security personnel or offend the people being photographed. Several cellular phone services are available. A number of public phones operate by locally purchased phone cards.
Telephones are available in Conakry and in other major towns and hotels.
However, while privatization has improved the communication system, disruptions in telephone service are common. While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Guinean law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Guinea are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.