Update:
Shortly after this letter was sent, the OPC was pleased to see that the website stopped broadcasting footage from unsecured webcams.
The incident highlights the need for anyone with a webcam in their home or business to ensure they take steps to secure the camera.
As well, it is important for companies that manufacture and sell Internet connected cameras to emphasize the importance of changing the factory default password – and make it as clear and easy as possible for people to do so.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is working with international and provincial counterparts to address the issue of a Russian website that has posted links to footage of unsecured surveillance videos from remote access webcams in use around the world, including Canada.
We fully support UK Information Commissioner Christopher Graham’s call for Russian authorities to take immediate action to take down the site.
We are also in the process of contacting the operators of the website to urge them to take down the webcam images.
In the meantime, we are urging anyone with a webcam in their home or business to ensure that they take steps to secure the camera – make sure you are not using the factory default password.
Check out the UK Commissioner’s blog on this issue.