09-012 · EVIDENCE A · SOURCE-SENSITIVE
Do not secretly film others, nor install cameras in rented apartments, homestays, or hotel rooms
不偷拍别人，不在出租屋、民宿、酒店房间装摄像头
There is no cost involved, nor does it require any time investment. Simply avoid secretly filming others or installing cameras in rented apartments, homestays, or hotel rooms.
Secretly watching, filming, or distributing someone else’s private information can lead to detention for up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1000 yuan. For more serious cases, detention ranges from 5 to 10 days. Using dedicated secret filming equipment that results in severe consequences can result in a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. In one case, two individuals purchased secret filming equipment online and installed it in multiple rooms across three hotels to film remotely; they were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months and 1 year respectively. Installing surveillance cameras in your own home is permitted, but doing so in rooms used by others is prohibited.
A
Move “Do not secretly film others, nor install cameras in rented apartments, homestays, or hotel rooms” to Future Me's calendar
The excuse
There is no immediate alarm, so the sensible choice can wait for a less busy week.
What feels good now
Today I keep a few minutes and avoid interrupting my default routine.
What the source says
The source summarizes the return this way: “Secretly watching, filming, or distributing someone else’s private information can lead to detention for up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1000 yuan. For more serious cases, detention ranges from 5 to 10 days. Using dedicated secret filming equipment that results in severe consequences can result in a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. In one case, two individuals purchased secret filming equipment online and installed it in multiple rooms across three hotels to film remotely; they were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months and 1 year respectively. Installing surveillance cameras in your own home is permitted, but doing so in rooms used by others is prohibited.” Evidence grade A. The original states the population, caveats, and sources; this is not a personal forecast.
Use the original facts and limits. For an urgent medical, safety, financial, or legal issue, contact a qualified local professional or service.
THE ENGLISH EDITION
Original recommendation and evidence
12. Do not secretly film others, nor install cameras in rented apartments, homestays, or hotel rooms
Cost: There is no cost involved, nor does it require any time investment. Simply avoid secretly filming others or installing cameras in rented apartments, homestays, or hotel rooms.
In plain terms: Secretly watching, filming, or distributing someone else’s private information can lead to detention for up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1000 yuan. For more serious cases, detention ranges from 5 to 10 days. Using dedicated secret filming equipment that results in severe consequences can result in a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. In one case, two individuals purchased secret filming equipment online and installed it in multiple rooms across three hotels to film remotely; they were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months and 1 year respectively. Installing surveillance cameras in your own home is permitted, but doing so in rooms used by others is prohibited.
Benefit: Those found guilty of secretly watching, filming, eavesdropping on, or distributing someone else’s private information face detention for up to 5 days, or a fine of up to 1000 yuan. For more serious cases, detention ranges from 5 to 10 days, plus an additional fine of up to 1000 yuan. Unlawful use of dedicated eavesdropping or secret filming equipment that causes serious harm can result in a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. Dedicated eavesdropping or secret filming equipment refers to devices specifically designed for covert listening or filming. Official case example: Yan Mouping and Yan Moujian purchased secret filming equipment online and installed it in multiple rooms across three hotels to film remotely; they were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months and 1 year respectively (nationwide).
Evidence grade: A
Sources: Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Administration Punishment Law (amended in 2025, Article 50). <https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml>; National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law (amended in accordance with the Criminal Law Amendment (Eleven), Article 284). <https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html>; Supreme People's Court of China (2024). Typical cases of illegal production, sale, use of eavesdropping, and photo-stealing equipment crimes (Case 2). <https://www.court.gov.cn/shenpan/xiangqing/449581.html>
Notes: If any material secretly filmed is sold or distributed, additional charges such as producing or trafficking obscene materials for profit may apply; in the same batch of cases, one individual was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Installing surveillance cameras in your own home is permitted, but doing so in rooms used by others is prohibited.
Read the complete Chinese source and notes
12. 不偷拍别人，不在出租屋、民宿、酒店房间装摄像头
成本: 不花钱，也不费时间。不偷拍别人，也不在出租屋、民宿、酒店房间里装摄像头。
说人话: 偷拍、偷窥、散布别人的隐私，拘留 5 日以下或者罚 1000 元以下，情节较重的拘留 5 到 10 日。用专门的偷拍设备、造成严重后果的，判 2 年以下。有两人在三家酒店的房间装器材远程偷拍，分别判了 1 年 3 个月和 1 年。家里装监控不算，装在别人住的房间就算。
收益: 偷窥、偷拍、窃听、散布别人隐私的，拘留 5 日以下，或者罚 1000 元以下。情节较重的拘留 5 到 10 日，还可以再罚 1000 元以下。非法使用窃听、窃照专用器材、造成严重后果的，判 2 年以下。窃听、窃照专用器材，指专门用来偷听、偷拍的设备。官方案例：颜某平、颜某建在网上买了窃照器材，装进三家酒店的多个房间远程偷拍，分别判 1 年 3 个月和 1 年（全国）
证据等级: A
来源: 全国人大常委会 (2025). 治安管理处罚法（2025 年修订，第五十条）. <https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml>；全国人大 (2020). 刑法（根据刑法修正案（十一）修正，第二百八十四条）. <https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html>；最高人民法院 (2024). 依法惩治非法生产、销售、使用窃听、窃照设备犯罪典型案例（案例二）. <https://www.court.gov.cn/shenpan/xiangqing/449581.html>
备注: 偷拍的东西一旦拿去卖或者传播，另按制作、贩卖淫秽物品牟利等罪处理，同一批案例里有判 10 年的。自己家里装监控不算，装在别人使用的房间里就算。
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