Hidden cameras disguised as everyday objects like screws, electrical outlets, and even toilet bowl cleaners are secretly recording women in public places across China. This footage is then uploaded to encrypted chat groups known as "tree holes," online spaces where users can anonymously share their thoughts and feelings.

One such forum, "MaskPark Tree Hole Forum," has become a marketplace for illicit footage, with over 100,000 members, primarily Chinese men. The forum boasts at least 20 subgroups, the largest with 900,000 members, all dedicated to sharing and discussing explicit content. The forum's introduction encourages users to "put on a mask, discard your defenses, and show your true self in this anonymous tree hole... Unleash your inner desires, express your innermost thoughts... This is a completely open, completely secure place where you don't need to worry about acquaintances and can do whatever you want."

The content shared ranges from secretly taken photos of women in public spaces to private images of ex-girlfriends, current partners, wives, daughters, and even mothers. The forum encourages members to "liberate their desires in front of the screen," and conversations within the groups are filled with vulgar and sexually suggestive language, drawing comparisons to South Korea's "Nth Room" incident.

Hidden cameras record 24/7 in various locations across China. Photo: Weibo

Hidden cameras record 24/7 in various locations across China. Photo: Weibo

According to Momo, an insider, the forum hosts numerous videos secretly capturing women's intimate areas, some of which are exchanged for money. This has spawned a market for pinhole cameras. "Subscribers would contact sellers to purchase the cameras themselves. I could find about 10 such buying and selling groups before, with the largest having 220,000 subscribers," Momo said. Images provided by Momo show how everyday items like water cups, power sockets, and scented candles can be modified to conceal cameras.

The scope of this illicit filming is vast, encompassing women's ultrasound rooms, public restrooms, subways, and shopping malls. According to a victim named Du, the victims vary in age and even include children. These cameras operate 24/7, highlighting the potentially massive number of victims. While the main MaskPark forum has been shut down following public outcry, Momo reveals that camera sales groups remain active, and smaller, similar filming groups persist.

In May, Du received a message from a stranger claiming to possess private photos and videos of her. Initially dismissing it as harassment, she followed a link provided by the stranger, leading her to a Telegram channel linked to MaskPark. "It was a channel with various chat groups and video topics," Du describes. To her shock, she found her photos and videos posted there. "My ex-boyfriend secretly took photos of me during intimate moments and posted them to the group without my permission. He also shared my social media account," she explains. Du's ex-boyfriend, a Canadian working in the US, had deleted all evidence, hindering her efforts to report him to the police.

Like Du, most victims are unaware they are being filmed. Even those who are aware don't expect their private moments to be publicly shared online. "They are very cautious. Telegram settings can be adjusted so chat content, including images and videos, can't be screenshotted or saved," Du says, adding that members maintain anonymity by communicating through IDs. The group's rapid growth is alarming. Du observed membership increase from over 80,000 in early May to over 100,000 by late June. When the forum gained attention on Weibo, the administrators quickly changed the channel's name and disabled the backup link in an attempt to cover their tracks.

Suo Ruonan, a lawyer at Tianlu Mingde Law Firm in Guangdong, advises victims to quickly preserve evidence by taking screenshots or videos of the group's information, user IDs, member count, and views of their private content. Notarizing evidence from foreign websites is crucial. Victims should also save records of communication with the suspect, especially any admissions of guilt, and have these notarized if necessary.

After gathering evidence, victims should report to the police, emphasizing the organized nature of the crime, its widespread reach, the profit motive, and the severe emotional distress caused. Suo Ruonan explains that these factors influence sentencing. Those who secretly film and distribute videos can face up to 2 years in prison for "illegally using specialized equipment for eavesdropping or secret filming." Public distribution constitutes "dissemination of obscene materials," punishable by up to 2 years, with a potential life sentence if profit is involved. Those selling the equipment can face up to 3 years in prison, or 3 to 7 years plus a fine, if the cameras are specifically for secret filming. If they are aware of the buyer's intent, they may be considered accomplices.

The MaskPark case highlights the challenges of prosecuting crimes committed on foreign platforms. Du points out that Telegram is inaccessible from Chinese app stores, requiring users to purchase a foreign Apple ID and use a VPN. This cross-border barrier creates a haven for criminals and hinders victims' ability to gather evidence and law enforcement's investigations.

While the main MaskPark channel has been shut down, similar groups continue to operate more discreetly on foreign platforms. The privacy of countless women remains at risk, secretly monitored and traded in these encrypted corners of the internet.

Tue Anh (according to Southern Metropolis Daily)