Unveiling China's Spy-Cam Porn Epidemic: A Personal Story
One night in 2023, Eric was scrolling on a social media channel he regularly browsed for porn. Seconds into a video, he froze.
He realized the couple he was watching - entering the room, setting down their bags, and later, having sex - was himself and his girlfriend. Three weeks earlier, they had spent the night in a hotel in Shenzhen, southern China, unaware that they were not alone.
Their most intimate moments had been captured by a camera hidden in their hotel room, and the footage made available to thousands of strangers who had logged into the channel Eric himself used to access pornography. Eric (not his real name) was no longer just a consumer of China’s spy-cam porn industry, but a victim.
So-called spy-cam porn has existed in China for at least a decade, despite the fact that producing and distributing porn is illegal in the country. However, in the past couple of years, the issue has become a regular talking point on social media, with people - particularly women - sharing tips on how to spot the tiny cameras hiding in hotel rooms. Some have even resorted to pitching tents inside hotel rooms to avoid being filmed.
Despite new government regulations requiring hotel owners to check regularly for hidden cameras, the threat remains. The BBC has found thousands of recent spy-cam videos being circulated online, filmed mostly in hotel rooms. Notably, during an investigation over 18 months, several websites and apps were discovered, all promoting live streams from well-placed hidden cameras across various hotels.
Eric feels a profound change in his perspective; what fascinated him as a teenager has now left him traumatized. When he broke the news to his girlfriend Emily about their hotel stay being filmed, she initially thought he was joking. However, upon seeing the video, she was horrified, fearing for how it could impact her personal and professional life.
As the couple grapples with their shocking experience, they realize they are not alone in this predicament. An underground market flourishes, facilitated by platforms like Telegram, where followers evaluate unsuspecting guests and comment on their appearances and actions.
The couple now avoids hotels altogether and takes precautions to disguise themselves in public to avoid recognition. Their story sheds light on a growing issue surrounding privacy, consent, and the exploitation of unsuspecting individuals in the digital age.
