Shenzhen hotels step up measures against hidden-camera risks

Shenzhen hotels have begun implementing stricter monitoring and preventive measures following a rise in hidden-camera incidents in guest rooms, according to Sing Tao Probe, a sister publication of The Standard.

A reporter went undercover in Shenzhen hotels to investigate staff practices. Some hotels admitted that guests had secretly installed cameras in their rooms, prompting staff to implement stricter anti-hidden-camera measures. Rooms are regularly monitored with security cameras and scanned with infrared devices, while guests often use red-filter tools to detect hidden cameras themselves.

At a hotel previously involved in a hidden-camera extortion case, staff said they perform on-site inspections upon guest request.

“Housekeeping staff will check rooms, and we will come if guests ask,” one employee said, noting that guests have become noticeably more vigilant since previous incidents.

Guests secretly filmed in hotels

Multiple incidents of hidden cameras being installed in hotel rooms have been reported across mainland China, with some guests secretly filmed and the footage illegally sold online. Foreign media claim that more than 180 hotels are believed to contain hidden cameras.

In one case, a Hong Kong couple staying at a Shenzhen hotel was secretly filmed, and the footage later circulated online, making them unwitting stars of an adult video. In another case in Luohu, a mainland couple was filmed and later extorted for 30,000 yuan.

Detecting hidden cameras: tips and precautions

Many Hong Kong visitors now carry camera-detection devices and carefully inspect hotel rooms, highlighting growing concerns over privacy and safety during stays.

Authorities and experts warn that hidden cameras can be concealed in TVs, power outlets, air-conditioning vents, curtains, kettles, and even bathroom mirrors or toilet tanks. King Sir, head of a local detective agency, said the devices reflect light and can be detected using red-filter tools, which are widely available online.