Urgent Concern: A Public Webcam Feed in a Child’s Bedroom

Introduction

Recently, I encountered a distressing situation while browsing the internet for security vulnerabilities. It came to my attention that a public webcam was streaming footage from a child’s bedroom. Shocked by this discovery, I found myself in a position many would find alarming—how to address such a significant privacy breach? Here’s the story of my attempts to remedy the situation, including the communication breakdown I experienced with the internet service provider, Rogers.

Initial Discovery

During my explorations on Shodan, an IoT search engine, I stumbled upon a live feed emanating from what appeared to be a child’s bedroom. Understanding the potential implications, I quickly established that the owner of the webcam was a customer of Rogers, the Canadian ISP. Concerned for the child’s safety and privacy, I decided to reach out to Rogers’ support team to find a way to address this issue.

Reaching Out to Rogers

Upon contacting Rogers’ customer support, I was directed to a supervisor after relaying the problem:

• Me: “I found a public webcam of one of your customers streaming from a child’s room. I am sure the owners are unaware of this serious privacy issue. Can you assist me?”
• Support Employee: “I recommend speaking with a supervisor regarding this issue.”

After being transferred and explaining my concern yet again, I realized the frustration I would face. The supervisor merely suggested that I report the matter to my local authorities in Austria or Canadian authorities. Their lack of direct action and guidance left me feeling defeated—not to mention the urgency of the matter involving a child’s privacy.

Follow-Up Actions

Feeling compelled to take further action, I decided to reach out to various organizations for help. I contacted:

• Rogers’ abuse department at [email protected]
• The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
• The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

Additionally, I attempted to reach the authorities through the provided phone number, 613-993-7267, but encountered difficulties getting through.

Update: Progress Made!

As of January 26, I have good news! The owner of the webcam has now secured the video feed with a password, ensuring better privacy protection. Also, I received an email from Rogers indicating that my issue has been escalated, and they would follow up with the webcam owner directly.

Community Support

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