In 2023, Eric and his girlfriend Emily stayed at a hotel in Shenzhen, China. They later found out their private moments were secretly filmed by a hidden camera in their room. Shockingly, the video of their intimate acts was livestreamed on a Telegram channel watched by thousands. Spy-cam porn in China is an illegal but growing problem. Hidden cameras are often tiny and hard to detect. Despite new government rules requiring hotels to check for cameras, many still spy on guests in secret. The BBC investigated this illegal trade for 18 months. They found over 180 spy-cams installed in hotel rooms across China, streaming thousands of videos. One agent called "AKA" runs a major livestream website charging subscribers 450 Yuan ($65) a month. Customers can watch live feeds and past clips. AKA’s Telegram channel had up to 10,000 members where people judged and insulted women on camera. The BBC traced a spy-cam to a hotel room in Zhengzhou. It was hidden in a ventilation unit and connected to electricity. A common hidden-camera detector failed to find it. The operation involves several agents like AKA, who work for “camera owners” managing spy-cam installations. One such owner named "Brother Chun" admitted to being part of the chain. The BBC estimates AKA earned about 163,200 Yuan ($22,000) since last April. Spy-cams are easy to buy in markets like Huaqiangbei in China. Though laws exist, punishment figures are unclear. NGOs say help for victims is growing but difficult because platforms like Telegram do not promptly remove illegal content. Telegram stated that non-consensual pornography is banned on their service and they remove harmful content. However, during the BBC investigation, illegal spy-cam content remained active on the platform. Eric and Emily remain shaken by their ordeal. They avoid hotels and public recognition. Eric stopped watching spy-cam videos but fears the clip might reappear. This hidden camera crisis exposes a serious invasion of privacy in China’s hotel industry.