A woman from Guangxi, surnamed Liang, recently discovered what appeared to be a hidden camera inside a doll she purchased online, prompting her to report the incident to the authorities and involve the e-commerce platform.
According to Red Star News, Liang said she bought the doll on November 3 for 47 RMB, with the item shipped from Zhumadian, Henan, to Hezhou, Guangxi. She noticed something unusual when her child played with the doll and handled its eyes, prompting her to inspect it further. To her shock, she found a device resembling a camera hidden inside.
“Buying a simple doll and finding something like a camera inside—our whole family was angry,” Liang said, questioning whether the manufacturer had engaged in illegal activity.
Liang contacted the seller, who claimed the shipment might have been mixed up and requested the item be returned. She refused the return. She then filed a complaint with the e-commerce platform, which initially suggested negotiating with the seller. As of November 16, the seller’s listings had been removed from the platform. On November 17, platform staff confirmed the product was taken down and that they were actively communicating with Liang to safeguard her consumer rights.
Legal experts said that while cameras themselves are legal tools, hiding them inside toys may constitute an invasion of privacy if used for illegal purposes. Du Yong, a lawyer from Sichuan Guosan Law Firm, noted that the device’s purpose must be clarified to determine potential legal liability. Beijing-based lawyer Chen Xiaohu added that consumers have the right to know whether products they buy contain recording devices.
“If the camera captures images without consent, it could constitute an invasion of privacy, and the consumer has the right to take legal action or file complaints with the platform,” Chen said.
