Smaller, better and more concealed cameras raise privacy concerns
By Jung Min-ho
In today's high-tech world, cameras can be the size of a pinpoint and disguise themselves as almost anything.
This raises red flags for privacy advocates, who believe lawmakers and regulators are reacting too slowly to what has increasingly become a tool for crimes.
A 28-year-old suspect, surnamed Choi, who has been arrested for allegedly having recorded videos of more than 100 naked women in water park shower rooms, said she used a subminiature camera imported from Taiwan for the job.
According to police, she walked around shower rooms last year with what looked like a mobile phone case which no one recognized as a camera.
And this is just one of many options available online.
A simple Google search can give anyone access to a slew of cameras that look like normal everyday items such as pens, car keys, lighters, watches and glasses among others.
Depending on the size and functions of the camera, the prices range from 50,000 won to more than 500,000 won ($420).
With competition in the market getting more intense over the past few years, some sellers offer discounts or expedited delivery.
As soon as the payment is made, the product is delivered within a few days.
"As long as you don't violate other people's privacy, it is totally legal to buy and use hidden cameras," said a camera seller, who runs a business in Seoul. "All our products have been approved by the government. No worries."
According to law, use of concealed cameras is legal if it is for property protection. But the problem is that, even if they are used for other purposes such as voyeurism, it is extremely difficult to find and punish the person responsible unless the video goes online.
If it goes online, the maker and distributor of the video could face up to five years in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million won. However, most offenders are fined, and few end up in prison.
According to the National Police Agency, the number of arrests for video voyeurism spiked to 6,361 last year from 1,039 in 2010.
Critics say the punishment is too lenient to function as a deterrent. Many claim that the number of such crimes will continue to rise unless tougher laws are enacted.
"The images or video recordings usually remain online, causing tremendous damage to the victims. Such crimes have to be taken more seriously," Rep. Park Nam-choon from the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said in a press release Thursday.
By Jung Min-ho
In today's high-tech world, cameras can be the size of a pinpoint and disguise themselves as almost anything.
This raises red flags for privacy advocates, who believe lawmakers and regulators are reacting too slowly to what has increasingly become a tool for crimes.
A 28-year-old suspect, surnamed Choi, who has been arrested for allegedly having recorded videos of more than 100 naked women in water park shower rooms, said she used a subminiature camera imported from Taiwan for the job.
According to police, she walked around shower rooms last year with what looked like a mobile phone case which no one recognized as a camera.
And this is just one of many options available online.
A simple Google search can give anyone access to a slew of cameras that look like normal everyday items such as pens, car keys, lighters, watches and glasses among others.
Depending on the size and functions of the camera, the prices range from 50,000 won to more than 500,000 won ($420).
With competition in the market getting more intense over the past few years, some sellers offer discounts or expedited delivery.
As soon as the payment is made, the product is delivered within a few days.
"As long as you don't violate other people's privacy, it is totally legal to buy and use hidden cameras," said a camera seller, who runs a business in Seoul. "All our products have been approved by the government. No worries."
According to law, use of concealed cameras is legal if it is for property protection. But the problem is that, even if they are used for other purposes such as voyeurism, it is extremely difficult to find and punish the person responsible unless the video goes online.
If it goes online, the maker and distributor of the video could face up to five years in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million won. However, most offenders are fined, and few end up in prison.
According to the National Police Agency, the number of arrests for video voyeurism spiked to 6,361 last year from 1,039 in 2010.
Critics say the punishment is too lenient to function as a deterrent. Many claim that the number of such crimes will continue to rise unless tougher laws are enacted.
"The images or video recordings usually remain online, causing tremendous damage to the victims. Such crimes have to be taken more seriously," Rep. Park Nam-choon from the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said in a press release Thursday.
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