There has been a noticeable increase in the use and availability of covert surveillance devices, including hidden cameras and listening devices, in Australia. This rise is driven by various factors, including the growing prevalence of domestic violence, concerns about the safety of elderly individuals in care facilities, and the evolving nature of workplace surveillance.
My name is Stuart Kenny, and I am a security specialist located in Perth, Western Australia. Counterespionage is one of my key focus areas, and my business CSI are a leading provider of TSCM services in Australia. CSI TSCM services are designed to provide high level protection, support and investigation capacity to all wide-ranging clients. We deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions which TSCM operatives and investigators can call upon where required. It is essential team members abide by the highest level of integrity, trust, and confidentiality with 24/7 accountability at all times.
Almost all organisations are vulnerable to electronic voyeurism. Any place offering employees, customers, and visitors a space where personal privacy is expected is at risk. We call these Expectation of Privacy areas, or EoP for short. Very few organizations are exempt from this threat. If you have a restroom, you have a risk. Examples of video voyeurs are: restrooms, showers, locker rooms, changing booths, tanning booths, etc., Covertly recording personal activities in these areas has never been cheaper or easier. This has resulted in a workplace video voyeurism problem of epidemic proportions.
The use and sophistication of covert hidden cameras and listening devices, driven by technological advancements, increased security concerns, and the rise of smart home ecosystems has substantially increased. These devices are becoming smaller, more powerful, and easier to integrate into everyday objects, making them more difficult to detect.
We’re seeing a clear trend in private clients requesting counter-surveillance support after discovering or suspecting hidden devices in their properties. It’s often triggered by events that heighten vulnerability—such as relationship breakdowns, disputes with landlords, custody battles, or workplace conflicts—prompting individuals to question their privacy and seek professional help. These incidents rarely make headlines, but the impact on those targeted is deeply personal.
Factors Contributing to the Increase:
Domestic Violence:
Perpetrators are increasingly using technology like GPS trackers and hidden cameras to monitor and control their victims, particularly during and after the pandemic.
Aged Care Concerns:
Families are installing hidden cameras in nursing homes to monitor the care of their elderly relatives, fuelled by fears of abuse or neglect.
Workplace Surveillance:
Employers are utilising various forms of surveillance, including hidden cameras and listening devices, to monitor employee activity, although this is subject to legal regulations.
Accessibility and Affordability:
The increasing availability of affordable and easily concealable devices has made surveillance technology more accessible to the general public.
Technological Advancements:
Miniaturisation and improved battery life have made covert devices more effective and versatile, leading to their wider adoption.
Sophistication of devices:
Modern hidden cameras and listening devices are becoming more advanced, with features like AI-powered motion detection, instant mobile alerts, and the ability to operate for extended periods without requiring a constant power source.
Legal Considerations:
Surveillance Devices Act:
In Western Australia, the Surveillance Devices Act 1998 (WA) governs the use of listening devices, optical surveillance devices (cameras), and tracking devices in workplaces and other settings.
Recording Private Conversations:
It is generally illegal to use listening devices to record private conversations without the consent of all parties involved.
Workplace Surveillance Laws:
Employers need to be aware of legal restrictions on covert surveillance in the workplace, including the need for transparency and employee consent.
You Are Not Paranoid
If you have thoughts of business espionage and eavesdropping, pay attention. Your intuition is telling you that something is wrong. Too many “coincidences” have tipped your inner warning scale. Your subconscious is sounding a real alarm. Trust your judgment. Something is wrong. These suspicions don’t occur to the average person randomly.
Call the CSI team today - until we arrive:
- Do not discuss your concerns within the suspected areas.
- Limit confidential conversations, however, conduct your affairs as normally as possible.
- Do not reveal your suspicions to others unless they have a real need-to-know.
- Keep detailed notes on anything you feel is suspicious.
- Plan a logical next-step should electronic surveillance be discovered. (We can help.)
LICENCE AND CERTIFICATION
Licence, insured, certified. The most important part of your due diligence when seeking a TSCM partnership. All our operatives are professionally trained, fully licenced, and well credentialed. Our principal holds a Diploma of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures by The Vanquish Group – TSCM International, United Kingdom, which is internationally recognised.
CSI TSCM services value customer service and have demonstrated sustained performance in successfully managing clients exposure to eavesdropping and information theft. CSI have a suite of security services available and can provide the right service for you.
Being an independent consulting firm, our recommendations are unbiased. Your security and privacy interests always come first.