One night in 2023, Eric was scrolling through a social media platform he often used to watch adult content when something shocking happened. Just seconds into one video, he froze.
The couple on screen — entering a hotel room, dropping their bags and later becoming intimate — was him and his girlfriend.
Three weeks earlier, they had spent the night at a hotel in Shenzhen, in southern China, unaware that their privacy had been violated. A hidden camera had secretly recorded their most personal moments, and the footage had been uploaded online for strangers to watch.
Eric (not his real name) suddenly realised he was no longer just a viewer of this kind of content — he had become a victim.
Warning: This story contains disturbing details
Secretly recorded “spy-cam” adult content has reportedly existed in China for over a decade, even though producing and distributing pornography is illegal there.
In recent years, however, the issue has gained attention on social media, especially among women who now share tips on how to detect hidden cameras in hotel rooms. Some travellers have even resorted to extreme measures to protect their privacy.
Last April, authorities introduced new regulations requiring hotel operators to regularly check rooms for hidden cameras. Despite this, the threat has not disappeared.
Investigations have uncovered thousands of videos secretly recorded in hotel rooms and sold online. Many of these are promoted through messaging apps like Telegram. Over an 18-month period, reporters identified several websites and apps linked to more than 180 hidden cameras that were not only recording guests but also livestreaming their activities.
Monitoring one such site for seven months revealed footage from 54 different cameras, with many operating at the same time. Based on hotel occupancy estimates, thousands of guests may have been recorded without their knowledge.
Eric, who is from Hong Kong, admitted he had been watching secretly filmed content since he was a teenager, drawn to what he described as how “real” it looked. But his perspective changed completely after discovering a video of himself and his girlfriend, “Emily”.
When he told Emily what had happened — that their stay had been filmed, edited into a long video and uploaded online — she initially thought he was joking. After seeing the footage, she was devastated and feared that colleagues or relatives might come across it.
The experience strained their relationship, and they barely spoke for weeks.
Investigations into the industry behind these recordings revealed organised networks profiting from the secret filming of unsuspecting hotel guests. One agent, known as “AKA”, sold access to livestreams for a monthly fee. Subscribers could switch between feeds showing different hotel rooms and even download recorded clips.
Telegram channels used to promote the content attracted thousands of members who would comment on guests’ appearances and private moments as they watched.
Researchers eventually traced one of the hidden cameras to a hotel room in Zhengzhou, where it had been concealed in a wall ventilation unit and connected to the building’s power supply. A standard camera detector failed to pick it up. The team disabled the device, but within hours, another camera in a different hotel had been activated.
The investigation identified several agents like AKA, who appeared to work for individuals higher up the chain responsible for installing the cameras and running the livestream platforms. The business is highly profitable, with some agents reportedly earning far more than the average annual income in China.
Support groups say demand for help is rising as more victims discover that intimate footage of them has been shared online. But getting the material removed is difficult, especially when platforms do not respond quickly to reports.
For Eric and Emily, the emotional impact has been lasting. They remain anxious about being recognised and now avoid staying in hotels whenever possible. Eric says he no longer watches such content, but still checks occasionally out of fear that their video might resurface.
Credit: BBC
