Men covertly filming women at night and profiting from footage, BBC finds

A growing, largely unregulated industry of covertly filming women in public spaces is generating significant revenue, potentially reaching “multi-million pound range” figures, according to experts. The practice, which involves filming women on nights out without their knowledge or consent, has sparked anger and frustration among those targeted, even as legal avenues for redress remain unclear.

The Scale of the Problem

The reach of this activity is substantial. Prof. Annabelle Gawer, director of the Centre of Digital Economy at the University of Surrey, estimates “billions of cumulative views” across platforms hosting this content. A single video accumulating one million views could generate up to £5,000 for its creator.

Legal Ambiguity

Current UK law offers limited protection. Filming in public places is generally not illegal, creating a “grey area” that allows this practice to flourish. Honza Cervenka, a solicitor specializing in image-based sexual abuse, explains that the activity “skirts between the line for a number of different crimes, including voyeurism and harassment.”

To pursue a harassment claim, a “course of conduct” involving at least two incidents is required. This could include initial street filming followed by online posting or sharing of the video. Even using a woman’s image as a thumbnail on other videos could be considered harassment.

Platform Responses and Limitations

Following inquiries, YouTube deactivated two accounts linked to Florjan Reka, who claimed to only publish “public walking tour videos.” However, several videos remain online on the platform. TikTok removed four channels identified in the investigation. Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, stated it removed content violating its policies, but the associated channels remain active.

The removal of a video featuring Grace and Sophie represents a “small victory,” but Grace expressed concern that the perpetrator still possesses the footage and could re-upload it, stating, “There’s probably no shutting it down.”

What Could Happen Next

increased public awareness and continued pressure on social media platforms could lead to more proactive content removal. Legislative changes clarifying the legality of this type of filming are also a possibility, though the timeline for such changes remains uncertain. Further legal challenges could test the boundaries of existing harassment and privacy laws. It is also likely that individuals engaged in this practice may adapt their methods to evade detection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is filming someone in public always legal?

Under UK law, filming in public places is rarely illegal, but this does not necessarily negate the harm caused to individuals who are filmed without their consent.

What constitutes harassment in this context?

For a harassment claim to be successful, there needs to be a “course of conduct” of two or more harassing incidents, which could include filming someone on the street and then posting the video online.

Have the platforms been successful in removing this content?

YouTube and TikTok have removed some channels and videos following inquiries, but several remain online. Meta’s channels remain active, though the company states it has removed violating content.

How should social media platforms balance freedom of expression with the need to protect individuals from unwanted and potentially harmful filming?