FROM THE MOMENT you step into a restaurant, a mall or other public venue, your every move may have been broadcast on the Internet. One blogger has challenged this practice, by criticizing a smart camera maker for broadcasting video from various surveillance cameras. China Central Television commented on Sunday:

Since it is common practice that exists in a gray zone where people's right to privacy and personal information are not only poorly protected but, more importantly, have become a cash cow for businesses of various kinds, the company probably thinks it is justified in questioning whether the writer's intention was to "sensationalize" the issue to draw fans to her own media platform.

Despite this, the question raised by the writer deserves the attention of the relevant judicial and law-enforcement authorities. That a person's right to privacy and personal information security are poorly protected does not mean the people should have to unwillingly acquiescence in the obvious infringement on their legal rights and interests.

Although the company said it obtains the consent of its customers, the final say rests with the people that are being livestreamed not the companies using its cameras.

According to the Network Security Law, the internet platform operators must keep people informed and obtain their agreement before collecting, storing, processing and transferring information related to people's privacy. And the Tort Liability Law also proscribes internet service providers are liable if they use their networks to infringe upon people's right to privacy and interests.

If these laws were strictly enforced, the company would not have the audacity to defend its acts.

China should amend the relevant laws and, more importantly, give them teeth in their implementation.

Technology has changed our lives, but technology developers and users should shoulder their responsibilities and not connive with others to break the law.

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(China Daily 12/18/2017 page8)

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