In September of this year, a netizen checked into a hotel located in Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, and suspected the presence of a pinhole camera during room inspection. After inspection by the police, it was found that the situation was true, and the suspect was controlled through investigation. Similarly, some people said that a pinhole camera was found in an apartment in Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, and then the local police captured three suspect who illegally used the equipment to eavesdrop and steal photos... In recent years, pinhole cameras have been installed in hotels, homestays, rental houses, shopping malls and even hospital locker rooms, and incidents of secretly taking and selling private videos have occurred from time to time, causing social concern and discussion. In fact, the use of pinhole cameras by criminals to secretly capture images is not a new problem, and relevant departments have been vigorously cracking down on such behavior. However, why does the practice of secretly capturing images persist despite repeated bans? Industry insiders say that behind the act of secretly filming, there is a huge black industry chain hidden. Xiao Xiao is a technician at Zhongxing Beiteng Technology Co., Ltd., which was established in 2018 and specializes in anti eavesdropping and anti video surveillance. Xiao Xiao told reporters that different types of covert filming equipment often reflect different motives for covert filming. There are generally three types of pinhole cameras. One is the plug-in storage card type, which requires regular installation and removal of the storage card and multiple entries into the same room. These installers are mostly hotel staff or operators; One type is to connect network cable cameras, which involves wiring, connectors, and other issues, usually for hotel personnel; There is also a type of wireless camera, and installing such cameras is mostly organized behavior. The first two may be for satisfying one's voyeuristic desires, while the latter is basically for illegally profiting from selling private videos Xiao Xiao said. In organized voyeurism, criminals purchase equipment, hire people to install, transmit and sell videos, and the illegal gains are divided among the voyeurs, equipment sellers, and illegal platform operators, thus forming an illegal profit chain. According to a homestay practitioner, there have been peers who live streamed guests' privacy solely through the installation of hidden cameras, earning substantial daily income. The high profits have led criminals to disregard legal boundaries and take risks, "said Qiu Yaokun, associate professor at the Kaiyuan Law School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Undoubtedly, the act of secretly filming has violated the law. According to the law, no organization or individual may infringe upon the privacy rights of others by means of espionage, harassment, disclosure, or public disclosure, "said Gao Zhengwei, a lawyer at Jiangxi Qiuzheng Ward Law Firm. Those who secretly take photos may be held liable for civil infringement and may also be subject to administrative detention and fines for violating the Public Security Administration Punishment Law. So, what are the difficulties in cracking down on the use of pinhole cameras for illegal filming? Industry insiders say that some cases of privately installed pinhole cameras uncovered by the police show that on the one hand, their servers are mostly located abroad, making it difficult for law enforcement officers to investigate and deal with these illegal websites; On the other hand, the sales of some wireless pinhole cameras are also difficult to trace, which poses challenges to investigating the black industry chain behind the illegal filming. At the same time, with the advancement of technology, spy cameras are becoming more advanced, increasing concealment while reducing costs. Criminals can easily obtain devices such as pinhole cameras. China has strict legal regulations on the illegal production and sale of specialized spy equipment or special equipment for eavesdropping and stealing photos. In recent years, relevant departments have increased regulations on the sale of pinhole cameras, but still cannot solve the problem of pinhole cameras being used for illegal purposes. The reporter searched for "pinhole camera" on multiple online sales platforms, but could no longer find relevant sales information. However, when searching for keywords such as "high-definition wireless camera" and "hidden camera", many micro camera product information would appear. Moreover, the merchants deliberately marked "non flashing video recording", "night vision without lights", "capsule type lifelong free viewing", "confidential shipping" and other introductions, and some claimed to provide so-called "module sets" that buyers can assemble themselves. In the production and sales process, it is not possible to completely ban all micro devices because there are no problems with micro recording devices themselves. For example, installing micro cameras in households is to constantly monitor the safety of children or the elderly, and some are installed in cars and modified into streaming rearview mirrors, all of which are legitimate uses. The problem lies in the usage process, that is, how to prohibit illegal elements from using these miniature recording devices to infringe on personal privacy for profit Captain Gao said. Some readers suggest that operators and managers of hotels, homestays, shopping malls, hospitals and other places should take responsibility and protect consumer privacy. So, do operators have such an obligation? According to relevant laws and regulations, operators and managers of operating places such as hotels, shopping malls, entertainment venues, and public places should fulfill their safety protection obligations. Otherwise, if they cause damage to the rights and interests of others, they will bear legal responsibility. "Qiu Yaokun said," Operators should regularly inspect public places. Once illegally installed pinhole cameras are found, they should take necessary measures such as evacuating customers, recording evidence, and protecting the scene, and promptly report to the police, and provide necessary assistance for law enforcement agencies to investigate. "Readers suggest that relevant departments should strengthen the crackdown on pinhole cameras for illegal filming. Li, a reader from Shangqiu City, Henan Province, wrote in a letter saying: "Public security, industry and commerce, industry and information technology, telecommunications and other departments should closely cooperate to establish a normalized supervision mechanism, severely crack down on illegal sales of eavesdropping and stealing equipment, and illegal infringement of personal privacy, increase the cost of illegal activities, and play a deterrent role." If it is found that the victim has been secretly filmed, the lawyer suggests that the victim should first remain calm and not touch or move the camera to avoid damaging the evidence. At the same time, take photos and videos of the scene, record the location, appearance, surrounding environment, accurate time of discovering the camera, room number and other information of the camera, as important evidence for subsequent accountability. You can immediately contact the management personnel of the venue, explain the situation to them, and require them to take immediate measures such as sealing off the room and protecting the scene. In addition, if there is a conflict with management personnel during this process, they should argue for their own rights and interests, record the negotiation process in audio and video, report to the police in a timely manner, and seek the help of legal professionals to understand their rights and how to file a lawsuit Captain Gao said. (New Society)