Fear is spreading on social media. Once again. One could almost consider whether the term “social” should be changed to “hysteric”.
Now it's the fear of a camera masquerading as a screw head. This is an image of one such camera, accompanied by text warning that these cameras are being used in hotel rooms, shops and changing rooms. Now you should definitely share this picture and warn all women in the family and relatives (why not the men?).
Well, now Mimikama comes around the corner and says: YES! Such cameras exist. And they are also easily available. But do we have to panic and carry screwdrivers around all the time to get these things out of every wall?

Watched in peace
Surveillance cameras in the form of everyday objects have not only been around since yesterday. So-called “pindle-eye cameras” have been on the market for around 20 years and are used by detective agencies, among others. They also come in numerous other forms in many everyday objects, such as watches, pens and fire alarms (with actual flashing diodes).
The keyword on Google is “spycam”. No matter whether Amazon, eBay or Conrad, these spycams in their many different forms are easy and cheap to buy. The photo shown above comes from an advertisement on eBay ( compare ).
But stop!
Even though these spycams can now be purchased surprisingly easily and cheaply, this still does not legitimize their use. Even the purchase itself is already forbidden in Germany! Bad news: providers tend to ignore this information. We consider Conrad's handling of this to be negligent, for example, when they succinctly quote a not very meaningful sentence from the user manual in response to a user query, but have no comment in the sales advertisement :
Customer question: Why is there no warning where you cannot use this camera in Germany?
Conrad answer: The camera manual contains the following note under
“Information for your safety”:
… When using it, data protection regulations must be observed, particularly
with regard to possible image and/or sound recordings and forwarding
….
It needs to be said even more clearly and that is why we are reproducing a press release from the Federal Network Agency here:
The Federal Network Agency declared war on banned spy cameras as early as 2016, “Especially in this day and age, particular attention must be paid to protecting privacy.”
In 2016, the Federal Network Agency took action against more than 70 cases of banned spy cameras. These were largely WiFi-enabled cameras that simulated another object or were disguised with everyday items.
“According to our findings, it is particularly popular to hide these cameras in clocks, smoke detectors or lamps,” said Jochen Homann, President of the Federal Network Agency. “But pop art flowers or power banks also serve as disguise. There are obviously no limits to your imagination.”
According to Section 90 of the Telecommunications Act (TKG), it is forbidden to own, sell or manufacture transmitting systems that are covered with objects of everyday use and that, due to these circumstances, are particularly suitable and intended to record the image of another person unnoticed .
“These cameras enable unnoticed remote surveillance and thereby endanger a carefree private life. We are therefore taking decisive action against everyone involved, such as manufacturers, sellers and buyers of these cameras,” emphasized Homann.
Such cameras can be found on a wide variety of sales platforms, especially on the Internet. If the Federal Network Agency becomes aware of such offers through its own research or information, the platform operators will first be asked to delete the offer in order to immediately stop further sales. The sellers are then contacted as part of an administrative procedure so that they can stop selling them in the future and name the buyers of the items. The sellers and buyers are required to destroy the items. Proof of this must be provided, for example in the form of a certificate from a waste management station.
Buyers and sellers are often understanding and cooperative.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

