Police on Sunday advised people to be more cautious of voyeurs secretly taking photos in public areas, as criminal cases of voyeurism have been on the rise in the past two years.
People can use handbags or coats to cover private areas of their body when taking public transportation or in crowded places to avoid having photos taken and better protect themselves, the New Taipei Police Department’s Women and Children Protection Brigade said.
The comment came after a 47-year-old man surnamed Liu (劉), who had been working as a photographer for an advertising company in Taipei for three years, was caught taking photos under a young woman’s skirt.
Photo: Reuters
Liu was caught taking nonconsensual photos of the woman in a general goods store near his residence in New Taipei City last month, according to an investigation by the Yonghe Police Precinct.
A store clerk noticed Liu taking the photos while pretending to tie his shoelaces and reported it to the police, who arrived on the scene and took him into custody.
After questioning, Liu was referred to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office on suspicion of violating privacy laws and capturing nonconsensual sexual imagery, police said.
Police said they found an album on Liu’s phone containing similar images of more than 20 women.
By comparing the images to the ceiling of Liu’s company office, police discovered at least seven of the women were his colleagues.
Anyone who captures sexual photos, video or audio of another person without consent would face a prison sentence of up to three years, police said.
Anyone who reproduces, distributes, broadcasts or otherwise makes such imagery available for public consumption without consent would face a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to NT$500,000, they said.
In addition, anyone who eavesdrops or secretly records others’ private activities would face a prison sentence of up to three years or be fined up to NT$300,000, they added.
Since the Criminal Code amendment on offenses against sexual privacy and nonconsensual sexual imagery came into effect in February 2023, there have been 546 cases of secret filming and 119 cases of distribution as of April, data from the Women and Children Protection Brigade showed.
Criminal cases of voyeurism have gone up annually since 2023, likely due to technological advances making recording equipment such as phones and spy cameras smaller, more discrete and more common, police said.
In addition, the widespread use of social media and messaging apps have made the distribution of such imagery faster and harder to control, they said.
The lack of public awareness about the illegality and consequences of these actions has also contributed to a rise in the cases, they added.
When using public restrooms or changing rooms, people should check their surroundings for phones or spy cameras that could be secretly filming, police said.
It is important to check around toilets, trash bins and tissue boxes, as well as above or below partitions, they said.
If you suspect or observe any suspicious behavior in the workplace, you should report it to a superior or contact the police and seek legal assistance to protect your rights and ensure workplace safety, police said.
To prevent such behavior, police advised authorities to regularly check for hidden cameras in public areas under their jurisdiction.
They also advised that if anyone discovers they have been secretly filmed, they should preserve any evidence and report the incident to the police immediately.
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