Privacy watchdog probes 24/7 Fitness hidden camera case
HK01 · 4 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data has begun a compliance review of 24/7 FITNESS after suspected pinhole cameras were discovered in changing rooms at one of the chain’s branches. The watchdog said it wants to ensure members’ personal data privacy is adequately protected and has asked the organisation to provide further information. The review will examine what security measures were adopted after the incident and whether those steps are sufficient to stop similar cases from happening again. In a separate criminal case, police arrested and charged a 34-year-old local male site foreman over the incident
Key Points
- The Privacy Commissioner said on October 5 it had noted public concern after suspected hidden cameras were found in 24/7 FITNESS changing rooms.
- The office has proactively launched a compliance review and requested further information from the gym chain about post-incident privacy safeguards.
- The review is focused on whether measures taken after the case are enough to protect members’ personal data privacy and prevent recurrence.
- on.cc reported the incident was discovered on September 25 at the 24/7 FITNESS branch in Shatin Galleria, 7 Lek Yuen Street, Sha Tin
- Police found three pinhole cameras and three memory cards in three of four individual changing rooms, and a voyeurism charge was later laid
Why It Matters
The case raises immediate concerns for gym users in Hong Kong because changing rooms are spaces where members expect a high level of privacy, and the regulator is now examining whether operator safeguards were adequate. It also shows that beyond the criminal investigation, organisations may face scrutiny over how they protect personal data and respond after a suspected privacy breach.