Hidden Cameras in Chinese Hotels Are Livestreaming Guests To Thousands of Telegram Subscribers (bbc.com)
- Reference: 0180748756
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/02/06/1913211/hidden-cameras-in-chinese-hotels-are-livestreaming-guests-to-thousands-of-telegram-subscribers
- Source link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62rexy9y3no
One site, monitored for seven months, cycled through 54 different cameras, roughly half active at any given time. Subscribers pay 450 yuan (~$65) per month for access to multiple live feeds, archived clips, and a library of more than 6,000 edited videos dating back to 2017.
The BBC traced one camera to a hotel room in Zhengzhou, where researchers found it hidden inside a wall ventilation unit and hardwired into the building's electricity supply. A commercially available hidden-camera detector failed to flag it. China introduced regulations last April requiring hotel owners to check for hidden cameras, but the BBC found the livestreaming sites still operational.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62rexy9y3no
Doesn't add up (Score:1)
So the Communist Party tracks every time you sneeze, but they had no idea this is going on? Either that, they are in on it.
Re: (Score:3)
China isn't like North Korea, and even in North Korea they can't watch everyone all the time. Crime still happens.
I expect there will be some high profile arrests, and very harsh punishments. They will want to avoid it becoming like South Korea, where hidden cameras are a huge problem.
Crime and Punishment (Score:2)
Typically, adjusted for the perceived severity of the offense, punishment is proportional to the difficulty of identifying and apprehending the offender.
It's nearly impossible to sweep a hotel daily for these cameras. If you do find them, it's nearly impossible to identify who planted them.
So... I like 'stocks in the public square for a month'.
Re: (Score:3)
This seems to have been a for profit operation, so they will be able to trace the money. I doubt whoever did it was careful enough to wipe the cameras clean of fingerprints anyway, let along manage good digital opsec.
Fire in the hole! (Score:1)
> China isn't like North Korea, and even in North Korea they can't watch everyone all the time. Crime still happens.
This statement, brought to you by the Grea, er.. Meh Firewall of China.
Re: (Score:3)
People who think that have never been to China. If they had been, they would have noticed that it's not like North Korea.
Re: (Score:2)
This is around 1 in 91'000 rooms, assuming a max of one camera per room. The Chinese government may very well not know because this is so insignificant. And they would certainly not be "in" on something this small.
Seriously, get a grip. There are quite a few things wrong with China. This is not one of these things.
What kind of loser watches this? (Score:2)
Seriously, what kind of loser pays to watch this? It's pathetic.
annual average disposable income (Score:2)
in China is around $5,000 according to the interwebs. So, apparently there are a bunch of people willing to spend 10 percent of their disposable income watching grainy footage of random schmoes sitting around in a hotel room in their underwear.
Monitored for 7 months huh? (Score:1)
For science, I'm sure.
Main character syndrome (Score:1)
This is an awful thing, granted but "Eric and Emily never go out without wearing hats now, for fear they might be recognised" is ridiculous - there are 8.3 BILLION people on the planet.
Eric & Emily I 1000% guarantee your sex antics are utterly not noteworthy nor memorable enough that the sorts of pr0n addicts that subscribe to these things would recognize you if you were sitting across from them at dinner. Guaranteed.
And you look like you're reasonably fit, healthy people.
Me, they'd pay to never see me
Re: (Score:2)
Personally I don't really care about possibly getting videoed rolling around in bed. More problematic would be getting access to my personal information, such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank passwords, business secrets, etc., where they could do some real damage.
If I had to choose between having a naked photo of me floating around on the dark web or having my identity stolen, I'd take the photo myself.
Seems insignificant (Score:2)
Apparently, China has approximately 16.5 million hotel rooms. Hence with at most 180 of these having cameras (0.0011%, 1 in 91'000), this does not seem to be a typically Chinese problem at all.
This articles seems to be some more mindless "China BAAAD!" propaganda. There are quite a few problems with China. Maybe focus on the real ones instead of this trash-level reporting?
Re: (Score:1)
Please try English next time.
Re: (Score:1)
Chinese sock puppet says, "Forget all, this, look at this lovely distracting Epstein stuff!"
Re: (Score:1)
Cool story bro!
Re: Propaganda / BBC Bullshit (Score:2)
Billy Idol? Fuck you, where's evidence?
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed. Apparently, China has 16.5M hotel rooms. That means 1 in 91'000 will have a camera in this scheme. I very much doubt the rest of the world is any better.
My take is this is some mindless "China BAAAD!" propaganda piece. I wonder why they do not report on real problems with China. Maybe stories on things like spying on citizens, imprisoning citizens in internment camps, murdering citizens in the street hit a bit too close to home?