"Desk Clock Gifted by Boss Turns Out to Be a Hidden Camera" Illegal Filming Crime... Can It Be Prevented?

47,420 Cases of Illegal Filming Crimes in the Last 10 Years
Disguised Cameras in Watches, Frames, Pens, etc. Also Used in Crimes
Illegal Filming Eradication Bills Still Pending in the National Assembly
Experts: "Strict Punishment for Illegal Filming Offenders Needed... Blocking Distribution Market Is Fundamental Solution"

The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "A desk clock gifted by my boss turned out to be an illegal hidden camera."

This is part of a victim's story exposed in the report "My Life Is Not Your Porn" - Digital Sex Crimes in Korea by the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW).

It took the victim a month to realize the desk clock had a camera function. During that time, the perpetrator, the boss, watched live footage of the victim through his mobile phone.

Women’s fear of illegal filming is growing. Especially as illegal filming using miniaturized and disguised cameras is rampant, calls to regulate the sale of such disguised cameras are increasing.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Jin Sun-mi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 3rd, a total of 47,420 illegal filming crimes occurred over the past 10 years. ▲1,523 cases in 2011 ▲and 2,400 cases in 2012, illegal filming crimes have occurred at over 4,000 cases annually since 2013, reaching 5,762 cases in 2019, about five times the 1,134 cases in 2010.

There are criticisms that the level of punishment is low compared to the increasing crimes. HRW’s report on digital sex crimes in Korea criticizes the punishment for illegal filming perpetrators as excessively lenient.

The report pointed out that in 2019, the non-prosecution rate for illegal filming and production/distribution of illegal filming materials was 43.5%, while during the same period, the non-prosecution rates for murder and robbery cases were 27.7% and 19.0%, respectively.

Meanwhile, the methods of crime are becoming more sophisticated. On the 16th, in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, a man in his 40s was arrested by the police for illegally filming women’s body parts by inserting a miniature camera between his toes. The man was found to have attached a 2 cm-sized miniature camera between his big toe and second toe and extended his leg between the legs of women wearing skirts to film them illegally.

On the same day, a post titled "Pictures You Should Run Away From Without Looking Back If Found in a Motel" was uploaded on an internet community. The post expressed outrage that disguised cameras cleverly hiding camera lenses using the bumpy texture of oil paintings are openly sold.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Disguised cameras are difficult to detect, which instills fear in citizens. Graduate student Park (29) said, "I’m afraid to go to the bathroom outside. There are many cameras disguised as screws or hinges, so I feel like I might be filmed somewhere without knowing it." She added, "When I enter a stall in a women’s restroom, I cover all the holes in the walls with toilet paper. Isn’t that proof that women feel extreme fear of illegal filming?"

Office worker Koo (25) also said, "I get angry every time I see news about illegal filming crimes," and added, "Because of the fear that I could be the subject, I have even looked for camera detection apps." He continued, "Yesterday, I went to a department store and checked a screw-shaped object on the bathroom door because it looked suspicious," expressing anger, "Why isn’t there a quick measure to prevent illegal filming?"

There have been attempts to eradicate illegal filming. In 2017, the government announced a comprehensive digital sex crime countermeasure and pledged to actively regulate disguised cameras. Among the 22 improvement tasks announced was the "introduction of a registration system for import and sales of disguised cameras and the establishment of a tracking information system."

On September 28, 2017, items seized from a group illegally distributing disguised cameras are displayed at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The main point is to systematically manage the import and sales of disguised cameras, which are easily misused for illegal filming. Since disguised cameras are already used in various fields such as medical, industrial, and broadcasting, instead of an outright sales ban, the government aims to place them under strict supervision through a real-name purchase system or sales registration system.

However, the National Assembly, which should legislate this, has been inactive, leaving the disguised camera law at a standstill. The disguised camera law was proposed twice in the National Assembly in September 2015 and August 2017. It was also proposed again in August 2018, but the bill is currently pending in the National Assembly’s Future Creation Science Broadcasting and Communications Committee’s bill review subcommittee.

Experts suggest that the disguised camera law should be introduced considering various variables. Professor Choi Jong-sul of Police Administration at Dong-Eui University emphasized, "Since the usage range of disguised cameras is wide, a specific law should be prepared that does not infringe on individual privacy."

On the other hand, there are concerns that the disguised camera law may not be a practical solution. Professor Lee Soo-jung of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University analyzed, "There is a large-scale market consuming illegal filming materials. Killing this market is the fundamental solution, but it is not easy."

Some view the increase in hidden camera crimes as due to "light punishments." Professor Choi pointed out, "There has been a lack of awareness about illegal filming, and the punishment has been weak," adding, "There is a need to strengthen punishments."