Can you get arrested/deported from China for using DV camcorder in Tiananmen Square?

As a tourist... no political agenda or anything like that.
The same way someone would use a camcorder in Disneyworld, for example.

My Chinese friends, on the other hand, strongly advise me to use a camcorder anywhere near Tiananmen Square.... especially not for the next few months(obviously...).

If anyone has been in China this month as a tourist and have used camcorders, please let me know if you encountered any problems... thanks!

Lots of tourists take photos in Tiananmen Square without any problem. As for camcorders, I'm not sure.

Usually no problem with camcorders, unless:
-there is a rare event such as a protester being dragged away
-you are wearing a Free Tibet or Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) or Let Taiwan Be Represented in the WHO/UN shirt
-you commit a crime (but then you'd be arrested in any case)

If you're White, then they'll probably be less likely to bother you if you're just tourist-ing since you'll probably be ripped off by vendors and pump lots of $$$$ into the economy. And they need good PR.
If you're Black or more than 6ft tall, then people will probably start taking pictures of you ;) or ask to get a photo with you.

Can you get arrested/deported from China for using DV camcorder in Tiananmen Square?
Of course not. That's ridiculous.

As a tourist... no political agenda or anything like that.
The same way someone would use a camcorder in Disneyworld, for example.
I don't know how you'd use a camcorder in Disneyland. You're welcome to take pictures and video in Tiananmen. I've shot both video and stills there, of buildings, people, soldiers, police -- anything and everything.

My Chinese friends, on the other hand, strongly advise me to use a camcorder anywhere near Tiananmen Square.... especially not for the next few months(obviously...).
Why obviously?

If there are demonstrations, it's a good idea to be elsewhere, but that's true in any country. Aside from that, no problem. Do your Chinese friends live in Beijing? Mine do (and my wife is from Beijing) -- we go to China often. I don't know what you've been hearing, but China welcomes tourists, treats them very well, and regards Tiananmen as a tourism "must see." China isn't Stalinist Russia. I don't know what your Chinese friends have told you, but either they're having you on, or they know very little about their own country.

If anyone has been in China this month as a tourist and have used camcorders, please let me know if you encountered any problems... thanks!
Is three months ago good enough?

Duplicate - please delete.

... If anyone has been in China this month as a tourist and have used camcorders, please let me know if you encountered any problems... thanks!

April 5 to 12 in Beijing. I took a couple of photographs of a PLA ceremony of some sort. I noticed someone else using a video camera as the soldiers marched past. No problems.

assuming you don't engage in other behavior likely to offend the police, june 4 itself is the only day you might receive some pushback, but even then, i wouldn't worry too much.

Can you get arrested/deported from China for using DV camcorder in Tiananmen Square?

As a tourist... no political agenda or anything like that.
The same way someone would use a camcorder in Disneyworld, for example.

My Chinese friends, on the other hand, strongly advise me to use a camcorder anywhere near Tiananmen Square.... especially not for the next few months(obviously...).

If anyone has been in China this month as a tourist and have used camcorders, please let me know if you encountered any problems... thanks!We were there a couple of weeks ago and had no problems whatsoever.

What amazed us was the number of persons we observed taking photographs in the airports of themselves, the buildings, the runways. (sha-pek-pvg)