Amazon Accused of Privacy Invasion—Cameras Disguised as Clothes Hook?

Joseph Henry, Tech Times 21 December 2023, 11:12 am

Amazon is accused of providing the means for a West Virginia man to spy on an underage Brazilian girl using a concealed camera.

The lawsuit unfolds a chilling narrative of neglect and potential harm, revealing Amazon's alleged failure to remove the intrusive device from its platform.

Alarming Allegations Against Amazon

Amazon Accused of Invading People's Privacy—Cameras Disguised As Clothes Hook

(Photo: Bernard Hermant from Unsplash) Here's another fitting room story you can't imagine to happen: there might be cameras spying on you. The new Amazon lawsuit alleges the company using its cameras as a clothes hook.

As per The New York Post, the lawsuit claims that Amazon enabled the accused, Darrel Wells, to procure a hidden camera disguised as a clothes hook. This device, resembling a common household item, was allegedly used by Wells to record the underage Brazilian girl without her knowledge.

Despite undergoing inspection three times, the e-commerce giant purportedly neglected to take down the camera, ignoring the potential dangers it posed.

What Did the Suspect Do?

Wells, a resident of West Virginia, is facing serious charges related to the clandestine recording of an underage Brazilian foreign exchange student hosted at his home in 2021.

The illicitly used camera, hidden in plain sight, allegedly captured the girl in her private spaces. Wells is now confronting 10 counts of criminal invasion of privacy and child pornography charges, involving the possession of 600 explicit images.

Underage Victim's Legal Action

Simultaneously, the underage girl, at the center of this disturbing incident, is taking legal action against Amazon. She asserts that Wells purchased the hidden camera through Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, which supposedly involves a stringent inspection process.

Despite the inspection, the device remained on the platform, leading to the alleged invasion of the girl's privacy. Seeking unspecified damages, she pursues justice through a jury trial.

Amazon's Attempt to Dismiss the Case

Amazon attempted to dismiss the case in March, arguing that the company couldn't anticipate the misuse of the product by the buyer. However, a judge ruled against Amazon's motion, emphasizing that the company should bear responsibility for products used for their intended purposes.

The legal battle puts the tech company in the spotlight, raising questions about its product vetting processes.

While the specific hidden camera in question is no longer available on Amazon's website, a concerning discovery is the continued presence of similar products.

In another report by Fox News, a quick search reveals items like "clothes hook spy camera" and "clothes hook hidden camera" still offered on Amazon's marketplace. The availability of such concealed surveillance devices prompts scrutiny over Amazon's commitment to user safety.

For Gina Martin, a privacy activist from the UK, the most common victims of these cameras in disguises are women and girls.

"Retailers do need to be doing more. They need to be stamping out hidden cameras because there are very few instances in which hiding the fact that you're filming someone is applicable or acceptable," Martin told BBC in an interview, as reported by Futurism.

This is not the first time that Amazon has been sued. Previously, the company settled a privacy lawsuit over clips about Ring cameras.

According to the plaintiff, the home security firm violated the privacy of users and some employees even accessed them without their consent.