A Taichung engineer surnamed Hsiao has been sentenced to one year in prison after secretly recording intimate footage of his ex-girlfriend and repeatedly using the images to threaten her following their breakup. The Taichung District Court found him guilty of illegally collecting and using personal data, as well as distributing surreptitiously recorded sexual images. His phone and all related files were ordered confiscated.
According to the verdict, Hsiao secretly filmed his girlfriend during their relationship and cohabitation, capturing non-public images of her nude, in intimate moments, and even using the bathroom—without her knowledge or consent. After the relationship deteriorated and the woman asked to break up, Hsiao hinted through messages that he possessed these private images, warning that a “USB in a metal box” might appear near her home or in her car, attempting to pressure her into reconciling.
Even after the breakup, Hsiao continued his harassment. He printed screenshots of the intimate footage and went to the woman’s residence multiple times, placing the photos on her car windshield. He also sent taunting messages, including, “If the photo without your face gets out, you probably won’t mind too much,” causing her prolonged fear and distress. She eventually reported the case to the police, who later seized his phone and image files as evidence.
The court ruled that Hsiao’s actions severely violated the woman’s sexual privacy, bodily autonomy, and right to control her personal data. Although he admitted to the offenses, he did not reach any settlement with the victim. The judge therefore imposed a one-year prison sentence—convertible to a fine—and ordered the confiscation of his device and all illicit images.
