Discovered a free public live feed from a child’s bedroom. Reached out to ROGERS (ISP), but received no assistance. What are the next steps?

A Concerning Discovery: Public Webcam Streaming from a Child’s Bedroom

In an unsettling turn of events, a user recently discovered a public webcam streaming live footage from a child’s bedroom. While navigating a known IoT search engine, the individual stumbled across this alarming stream, inadvertently revealing a child’s private space to the world.

Upon identifying that the webcam’s IP address belonged to a customer of the Canadian Internet Service Provider (ISP) Rogers, the concerned user took immediate action. They reached out to Rogers’ customer support in hopes of resolving this serious privacy breach.

Support Experience Offers Little Relief

The user’s experience with Rogers’ support, however, proved frustrating. The initial contact led to a referral to a supervisor, but after a lengthy exchange, the only advice given was to report the matter to authorities in both Austria and Canada. This response left the user feeling disillusioned and disconnected from a potential resolution.

In a message to the public, the user shared details from their conversation with Rogers, emphasizing their deep concern for the affected child and family. They expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of contacting local authorities, particularly from abroad, with the hope that Rogers would take the initiative to notify the webcam owner themselves.

Recent Developments and Community Support

As of January 26, there have been promising updates. The owner of the webcam was contacted, and the live feed has since been secured with a password, alleviating some immediate concerns. Further, the user received an email from Rogers indicating that the issue has been escalated, and they will reach out to the webcam owner to ensure their privacy is protected.

The community response to this troubling discovery has been overwhelmingly supportive, with many members offering advice and assistance. The user has taken proactive steps, reaching out to various organizations, including the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Canadian Centre for cyber security, in hopes of preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Next Steps

The user noted that they would continue to pursue solutions by attempting to contact Canadian authorities through the recommended phone number, although their experience has led them to question the efficacy of that route.

This alarming situation raises critical questions about privacy and safety in our increasingly interconnected world. It serves as a reminder for all internet users—especially those in possession of webcams or similar devices—to routinely check their security settings to protect against unauthorized access.

Stay tuned for further updates as this situation unfolds and as the user continues to share their journey toward ensuring the safety and privacy of children online.

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One Comment

  1. Hello,

    Given the serious nature of this privacy breach involving a public webcam streaming from a child’s bedroom, it’s crucial to take prompt and comprehensive action. Here are some recommended next steps:

    • Contact Relevant Authorities: Continue pursuing the matter with local law enforcement agencies both in your country and in Canada. Provide them with all relevant details, including the IP address, any evidence of the stream, and your communications with ISP support.
    • Report to Privacy and Cybersecurity Organizations: Since you’ve already contacted the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and cybersecurity organizations, consider following up with them or submitting detailed incident reports. They can often assist in escalating such cases.
    • Notify the Webcam Owner: If you have contact details for the webcam owner, alert them immediately so they can secure their device and prevent further leaks. Coordinating with the owner can help mitigate ongoing privacy harm.
    • Implement Security Measures: Encourage the concerned parties to review and strengthen their IoT and webcam security settings. This includes changing default passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly updating firmware.
    • Leverage ISP Support: Since your support contact was unhelpful initially, consider escalating the issue within Rogers via their dedicated privacy or security teams, or through

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