A disturbing phenomenon in China’s hotel industry has been thrust into the spotlight after a man living in Hong Kong discovered a video of himself and his girlfriend having sex that had been secretly recorded in a hotel room in Shenzhen and uploaded to an adult content platform without their consent. The footage showed the couple entering the room, unpacking, and later engaging in private activity all recorded by a hidden camera placed in the room. The man, identified only by the pseudonym “Eric,” came across the clip while browsing online and immediately recognised himself and the setting.
This case was uncovered as part of a BBC Global China Unit investigation, which found that hidden cameras as small as the eraser on a pencil were being covertly installed in hotel rooms and that thousands of intimate videos have been captured and distributed online over a prolonged period.
A Thriving Underground Industry
Despite China’s strict laws banning the production and distribution of pornography, this spy-cam porn industry has been operating for years. Investigators monitoring platforms and social media channels found multiple websites and Telegram streams broadcasting live or archived footage from hidden cameras. Some operators are reported to have boasted of more than 180 cameras installed in hotel rooms, with videos starting automatically when guests activated their key cards. These videos are often shared or livestreamed on platforms that might be banned in China but remain accessible to users via virtual private networks. Many contribute to online communities where viewers watch, comment on and even rate footage of unsuspecting couples and individuals.
Severe Personal Impact
For the couple at the centre of the Shenzhen incident, the discovery was traumatic. They reportedly were unaware they had been filmed at all, and the knowledge that their private moments had been broadcast to strangers left them feeling violated. The man described the experience as deeply upsetting, and both he and his girlfriend feared that friends, colleagues or family members might have seen the video online. The fallout from these incidents has not only affected those directly involved — it has sparked wider public concern about privacy, safety and enforcement.
Official and Legal Context
China has taken some steps in recent years to enhance privacy protections. In April 2025, the government introduced requirements for hotels to regularly inspect rooms for hidden recording devices and placed stricter controls on where cameras can be legally installed. Regulations also penalise the illegal installation and dissemination of footage captured without consent. However, enforcement remains a challenge, and authorities have acknowledged the need for stronger action against the black market for hidden cameras and voyeuristic content. Earlier reports noted that individuals involved in installing hidden cameras in hotels and guesthouses were prosecuted and sentenced, demonstrating the ongoing legal efforts to crack down on these practices.
Broader Privacy Concerns
While this scandal is being widely reported in China, hidden cameras in private spaces like hotel rooms remain a global concern, and travellers around the world have reported occasional discoveries of surveillance devices in accommodations. However, the scale and organisation of the Chinese spy-cam pornography operation — with hundreds of cameras and thousands of videos — is notable for both its reach and the level of technological sophistication involved.
