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1600 people were secretly recorded in South Korea hotels rooms and streamed online for paying customers. Two men have already been arrested in the investigation that involved over 40 rooms in 30 hotels across 10 cities around the country. The accommodations involved were smaller size hotels referred to as Motels in South Korea.
Police found hidden cameras inside wall sockets, digital TV boxes and hairdryer holders that were being used to stream the footage online.
1600 Victims Were Live-Streamed to Paying Customers
Between November of 2018 and this month police say there were over 4000 members that had subscribed to the website. 97 of the members paid $44.95 a month to access certain live feeds and features. The website had already earned more than $6000 police said.
“There was a similar case in the past where illegal cameras were (secretly installed) and were consistently and secretly watched, but this is the first time the police caught where videos were broadcast live on the internet”
South Korea Police Statement
Secret Recordings & Hidden Camera Complaints Sky-Rocket in South Korea
In 2017 there were over 6400 cases of illegal filming compared to 2400 in 2012. Seoul has since launched a special squad of women inspectors who canvas the over 20,000 public toilets searching for spy cameras.
Lee Ji-soo is a computer specialist that helps women remove unwanted photos and videos from the internet. She told CNN after protests erupted last year the demand for her services dramatically increased.
“The most common things that the clients are saying — and they are quite heartbreaking — are ‘I want to die' or ‘I cannot leave my house.' Especially the victims of spy cam or illegally taken videos say that when they encounter people on the street, they feel like they would be recognized,”
Lee Ji-soo, computer specialist
How to Protect Yourself
Last year we reported on the increase in use of hidden cameras in Airbnb's and Hotels. There are many things you can do to protect yourself against this devastating invasion of privacy. From knowing what to look for and even an app that can scan for unusual electronic activity, we put together a complete guide to help. Learn more about How To Find Hidden Cameras In Your Airbnb and Hotel.
