Hidden cameras and leaked private videos: the legal consequences

Three kinds of liability can apply at once

Secret filming and sharing private images can be a civil wrong, an administrative offence and, in serious cases, a crime. Paying a fine does not necessarily end the matter.

'I only forwarded it', 'I did not make money' and 'the other person sent it to me first' are not automatic defences. The scope of distribution and what the person knew both affect liability.

Civil liability: privacy and personal information

Articles 1032 and 1033 of the Civil Code protect privacy, including private activities, private body parts and private information. Secretly filming or distributing intimate images without consent is a clear violation.

A victim can ask a court to stop the infringement, delete the material, issue an apology and award compensation, including damages for mental distress.

If the material is accompanied by false claims, insults or identifying details, defamation and personal-information rules may also apply.

Administrative liability: peeping, filming and spreading privacy

The revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law, in force from 1 January 2026, addresses peeping, secret filming, eavesdropping and spreading another person's privacy in Article 50(6).

The penalty can be detention for up to five days or a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. In more serious cases, detention can be five to ten days, with a fine of up to 1,000 yuan.

This means a case can lead to police detention even when it does not meet the threshold for a criminal prosecution. Report with the original files, links and chat records.

Criminal liability is not limited to obscenity

Making, copying, selling or distributing obscene material for profit can violate Article 363 of the Criminal Law. Distributing obscene material without profit can violate Article 364 when the circumstances are serious.

Using private images to demand money, sex or continued contact can amount to extortion. Illegally obtaining or selling personal information can violate the personal-information offence.

Publicly insulting or defaming someone can also lead to criminal liability in serious cases. The exact charge depends on distribution, profit, harm and intent.

Why forwarding is not harmless

Every forward expands the harm. A person who knowingly shares private images, requests the file or organises a group to distribute it can face civil, administrative and criminal consequences.

Comments asking for the 'original' or a 'resource' can become part of the distribution chain. Do not save, forward or search for the material.

If you see suspected secret filming, report it. Do not download it 'for evidence' and then send it to others.

What to do if you are filmed or leaked

1. Get safe: Move away from anyone who may continue filming or threatening you.
2. Preserve evidence: Record URLs, account pages, group chats, timestamps and threats. Screen-record the page and keep the original device.
3. Do not redistribute: Do not send the material to friends, groups or 'helpers'.
4. Report to platforms: Use privacy and sexual-content reporting channels and keep the ticket numbers.
5. Contact the police: Call 110 and provide the evidence. The 12377 centre handles illegal online content reports.
6. Get legal advice: Ask a lawyer about civil claims, takedown orders and criminal reporting.

Preserving evidence properly

• Record the full URL, account profile, posting time and platform name, not only a screenshot.
• Screen-record chats, transfer records and threatening voice messages.
• Keep the original files and device; do not edit or splice recordings.
• For widespread distribution, ask a notary or lawyer to preserve the evidence.
• Do not hack or dox the other person. Illegal evidence-gathering can create a new case against you.

What platforms should do

Most platforms provide reporting channels for privacy violations and sexual content. A request can lead to removal, link blocking and account suspension.

Keep the report time, ticket number and platform response. If a platform ignores a valid notice, it may face its own liability.

Search engines may cache copies. Submit removal requests there as well, and avoid repeated searching, which can increase visibility.

What not to do

• Do not pay, negotiate sex or agree to other exchanges to get the material deleted.
• Do not meet the person alone to 'talk', especially if they know where you live.
• Do not retaliate by publishing their private information; that can make you a wrongdoer too.
• Do not post unredacted evidence publicly and cause further harm.
• Do not rely on a verbal promise of deletion. Ask for written confirmation and keep records.