Hong Kong Couple Shocked: Chinese Hotel Secretly Films and Live Streams Their Private Moment

A BBC World Service investigation revealed a widespread 'spy camera' network in China, operating for over a decade. In the past 18 months, websites and apps advertised through Telegram claimed to have hidden cameras in over 180 hotel rooms, some livestreaming and maintaining thousands of archived video clips. The traumatic incident involved 'Eric', a Hong Kong man who discovered his own private video with his girlfriend, recorded without their knowledge during a hotel stay in Shenzhen, was edited and shared to thousands of viewers. The investigation exposed a network of agents installing hidden cameras in rooms, using hard-to-detect equipment like air vents and direct building power connections. Despite Chinese government regulations requiring hotels to check for cameras, the threat persists. One agent could potentially earn hundreds of thousands of yuan annually from membership fees and video sales. Hong Kong NGOs noted the difficulty of removing content from platforms like Telegram. Eric and his girlfriend remain fearful, avoiding hotel stays and worried about potential future video releases.