diff --git a/core/api/current.txt b/core/api/current.txt
index 9fd9ba293f417..ee4844938b786 100644
--- a/core/api/current.txt
+++ b/core/api/current.txt
@@ -21584,6 +21584,7 @@ package android.media {
   public class MediaActionSound {
     ctor public MediaActionSound();
     method public void load(int);
+    method public static boolean mustPlayShutterSound();
     method public void play(int);
     method public void release();
     field public static final int FOCUS_COMPLETE = 1; // 0x1
diff --git a/media/java/android/media/MediaActionSound.java b/media/java/android/media/MediaActionSound.java
index dcd4dce5f3eb2..ec56d614f2b5e 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/MediaActionSound.java
+++ b/media/java/android/media/MediaActionSound.java
@@ -16,8 +16,11 @@
 
 package android.media;
 
-import android.media.AudioManager;
+import android.content.Context;
 import android.media.SoundPool;
+import android.os.IBinder;
+import android.os.RemoteException;
+import android.os.ServiceManager;
 import android.util.Log;
 
 /**
@@ -104,6 +107,26 @@ public class MediaActionSound {
     private static final int STATE_LOADING_PLAY_REQUESTED = 2;
     private static final int STATE_LOADED                 = 3;
 
+    /**
+     * <p>Returns true if the application must play the shutter sound in accordance
+     * to certain regional restrictions. </p>
+     *
+     * <p>If this method returns true, applications are strongly recommended to use
+     * MediaActionSound.play(SHUTTER_CLICK) or START_VIDEO_RECORDING whenever it captures
+     * images or video to storage or sends them over the network.</p>
+     */
+    public static boolean mustPlayShutterSound() {
+        boolean result = false;
+        IBinder b = ServiceManager.getService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE);
+        IAudioService audioService = IAudioService.Stub.asInterface(b);
+        try {
+            result = audioService.isCameraSoundForced();
+        } catch (RemoteException e) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "audio service is unavailable for queries, defaulting to false");
+        }
+        return result;
+    }
+
     private class SoundState {
         public final int name;
         public int id;