Privacy questions arise over Qihoo 360 cameras
Chinese internet security company Qihoo 360 is facing accusations of invading privacy with its security cameras. An article that went viral on WeChat last week provoked anger from people who were unaware their activities were being broadcast.
The article — Stop Watching Us — which was written by Chen Feifei, a 25-year-old entrepreneur in Beijing, said many public places including restaurants, gyms and schools have installed the cameras, which can livestream on Qihoo 360’s platform Waterdrop Livestream.
“In Beijing more than 600 locations have cameras. Few shops notify their customers,” she said.
Company spokesman Zhan Minghui said the cameras were first offered in early 2015 for people to monitor their children, pets or houses via a phone app when they are out.
On Nov 24, following child abuse allegations against kindergarten provider RYB Education, Qihoo 360’s founder Zhou Hongyi pledged free cameras for kindergartens nationwide to let parents view their children.
Once private information is used in a commercial manner without permission, privacy is invaded.” Liu Lin,
“The public can also access our cameras to monitor restaurant kitchens, manufacturers, farms and so forth, as a way to help owners attract more customers,” Zhan said.
According to an announcement posted on Waterdrop Livestream on Tuesday, shops that want to install a camera and broadcast to the public must register their real names on the platform. Inappropriate content is prohibited, with a group of 100 reviewers monitoring the livestreams around the clock.
The announcement added, however, that Qihoo has not until now checked to see if shops are notifying customers of the livestreaming, and in the future will cut them off if they fail to do so.
Liu Lin, a lawyer at Beijing Shuangli Law Firm, said: “If footage of customers is not being used for commercial purposes, then their privacy rights are not being infringed. But once private information is used in a commercial manner without permission, privacy is invaded.”
Zhu Wei, deputy director of China University of Political Science and Law’s Communication Law Center, said people should not expect privacy in public places.
“In this case it’s not about invading privacy because whenever you are in public there is a chance of being exposed to cameras. Customers who don’t want their image broadcast can choose not to enter an area that’s under camera surveillance,” Zhu said. “What’s more, Qihoo 360 should strengthen its supervision of shops to ensure they notify everyone.”