Police put up fake ‘spycam porn’ to trap predators online

A police campaign video disguised as “spycam porn” was downloaded 26,000 times on the web over a two-week period.

The video in question shows a woman apparently changing clothes from a high angle, as if it were shot from a camera hidden in the ceiling. The woman in the video then turns into a ghost, with an on-screen message that reads, “Watching this woman filmed by a spycam, you could be the one driving her to suicide,” followed by another message that reads, “Police are monitoring this website.”

For each day between Oct. 17 and 30, Busan police uploaded this video to 23 file-sharing websites where illegal sexual images frequently circulate. According to an announcement from Busan Police on Wednesday, the video had been downloaded 26,000 times during the two weeks. Police also said the amount of illegal spycam porn on the file-sharing websites fell by 11 percent during the same period; a figure possibly showing immediate dividends of the campaign.

This campaign by Busan Police against illegal spycam footage online,“Stop Downloadkill,” sought to warn downloaders of the unlawful and damaging nature of the illegal content they may seek out.

“We wanted to let web users know that spreading and downloading illegal spycam videos online is a serious crime, which drives the victim to immense psychological suffering, and even suicidal thoughts.” an official from Busan Police told the Yonhap News Agency.

(mjk625@heraldcorp.com)