Internet company accused of streaming private surveillance videos

Qihoo 360, a leading Chinese internet security company and also a camera maker, has been accused of infringing on people's privacy for streaming videos recorded by its surveillance cameras, reports Beijing Youth Daily.

An online article published on December 11, 2017 alleged that Qihoo 360 has put the surveillance videos collected from its camera users on its live streaming platform Shuidi Live, which has raised public concern over privacy invasion.

The 360 Smart Camera developed by Qihoo is a surveillance camera that allows users to view video recordings on a computer or via the 306 Camera app on their mobile phones.

Qihoo's 360 Smart Camera allows users to view video recordings on a computer or via the 306 Camera app on their mobile phones. [File photo: IC]

So far, over 300,000 units of Qihoo's intelligent camera equipment have been sold on Taobao, China's leading online retail platform.

Most of the buyers are business owners who install the cameras in public places with a large flow of people, such as restaurants, clothing stores, hotels, fitness centers and office buildings.

When people enter the surveillance areas, all their movements could become streamed on Shuidi Live, which has an average of over seven million viewers per day.

According to the report, a total of 657 surveillance videos recorded by users in Beijing are being streamed on Shuidi Live on December 13, 2017.

A variety of surveillance videos showing the scenes inside stores are available on Shuidi Live, Qihoo 360's live streaming platform. [Screenshot: China Plus]

Qihoo 360 responded that camera users can decide whether to turn on the streaming function and are required to complete a real name registration if they are to stream surveillance videos.

The company also said a store owner has to put up a notice to inform customers in surveillance areas when streaming the video. But it is reported that few store owners abide by such a rule in practice.

On Wednesday, reporters with the Beijing Youth Daily visited a pub located in Beijing's Chaoyang District. Its surveillance video is found to have been streamed on Shuidi Live all day long.

"The camera is linked to the mobile phone of my boss, who can monitor the situation in the pub anytime," explained a bartender who said he knew nothing about the live streaming.

It was discovered that a Qihoo camera installed on the pub's ceiling was on, while there was no notice about the live streaming.

"Even if the store has put up a notice, it doesn't mean I have to accept it. Nobody likes to be peeped at while eating meals at a restaurant," said a customer surnamed Wang, who was told that he had appeared in a live video.

Figures show that Qihoo 360, known for its antivirus software, web browser, and mobile application store, had 496 million users for its internet security products and 641 million users for its mobile antivirus products as of June 2014.