South Korea Moves to Combat Secret Spy Cam Pornography

Seoul officials have vowed to conduct daily checks of public restrooms
By Josh Gardner,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 3, 2018 4:30 PM CDT
Seoul's Secret Camera Plague Leads to Daily Bathroom Checks
Stock photo.   (Getty/RyanKing999)

A plague of hidden cameras has led officials in South Korea to pledge that daily checks will be carried out in all public restrooms in Seoul. Per the BBC, the "spy cam porn" problem is widespread and common in the country, where over 6,000 cases were reported last year. The clandestine videos are taken in places like restrooms and changing rooms and frequently uploaded to websites without the consent of the people in them, mostly women. The problem is so bad that tens of thousands of protesters are now convening monthly in Seoul, where they hold up signs bearing slogans like "My Life is Not Your Porn."

Per the Guardian, the Yonhap News Agency reports that public restrooms are currently checked only once per month in Seoul, where just 50 inspectors face the momentous task of checking some 20,000 facilities. Going forward, the new policy will instead require the employees who clean the bathrooms to also check for surveillance and recording devices. Government officials have also pledged to flag restrooms that are the most susceptible to the crime and ensure those are checked most frequently. (More South Korea stories.)

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