Amazon is selling a controversial hidden spy camera despite major backlash in the USA over the product.
Spy cameras which are disguised as clothes hooks are reportedly being sold on the shopping platform despite the company being sued over them. One picture of one of the devices reportedly shows it being hung up in a bathroom.
The controversy comes after an American judge recently ruled that Amazon has to face a case brought by a woman who claims she was filmed by one of the devices which they claim was purchased on the platform.
As a result, there are now questions over whether these devices should be sold in the UK as they could breach British laws as well.
According to the BBC, the woman in question was a student and aspiring actress who claimed that she was filmed at her West Virginia home when she was a child.
The man who is alleged to be behind the filming is currently on trial for the case. The woman subsequently made a complaint to the US District Court.
In the complaint, the woman said the camera was attached to a towel hanger with the phrase “it won’t attract attention”. She added that she believes the use of the camera was “foreseeable” to Amazon and as a result, she is seeking damages from Amazon over the incident.
To try and stop the case, Amazon tried to have it dismissed on the basis that it wasn’t responsible for what happened. According to the BBC, there are several types of cameras on site which can be disguised as different types of objects. These include an alarm clock, a USB charger and a smoke alarm.
They added there was what was described as a “bathroom spy camera” which took the form of a shower radio. The devices allegedly stressed that they could be used for monitoring children, but some privacy experts have warned they could break some laws.
Speaking to the broadcaster, Pinsent Masons law firm partner Jaya Handa said: “Given the expectation of privacy within the home, individuals could be committing a crime under a number of other legal frameworks including harassment, child protection, voyeurism, sexual offences or human rights laws.”
