This involves secretly capturing images or videos of individuals, often focusing on intimate areas or private moments, without the target's knowledge or permission (and may be part of a longer pattern of online harassment or stalking / cyberstalking abuse). It is a subtype of intimate image abuse).
Common manifestations include taking photos up clothing (upskirting), down shirts (downblousing), or recording in private spaces like bathrooms, changing rooms, or bedrooms. Perpetrators may use hidden cameras, smartphone cameras, or other recording devices.
The recorded content may be kept for personal use, shared in online forums, or used as leverage for further abuse (sexual extortion).
Legal frameworks vary significantly across jurisdictions. Some countries have enacted specific legislation (like the UK's Voyeurism Act 2019), while others address voyeuristic recording under broader privacy or harassment laws. Cultural attitudes toward bodily autonomy, privacy expectations, and gender equality influence both the prevalence of this abuse and institutional responses to it.
Low - Most voyeuristic recording requires minimal technical expertise, typically involving standard smartphone cameras or readily available hidden recording devices.
AI-enhanced cameras could automate target detection and tracking. Generative AI tools could create synthetic voyeuristic content or enhance poor-quality recordings.
AI can improve automated detection of voyeuristic content on platforms, identify distribution patterns, and enhance reporting mechanisms for faster content removal.