Discovered a live public webcam feed showing a child’s bedroom; reported it to ISP (ROGERS.com), but received no concern. What are the next steps?

When Concern for Child Safety Leads to a Frustrating Experience with ISP Support

While browsing the web, I encountered a concerning situation that I never anticipated: a public webcam streaming from a child’s bedroom. Disturbed by this discovery, I felt compelled to take action, hoping to alert the owner of the webcam and ensure the safety of the child involved.

The Discovery

My journey began on a website designed for discovering Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities. There, I stumbled upon a live feed emanating from a small child’s room in Canada, belonging to a customer of the telecommunications provider Rogers. Alarmed, I decided to reach out to their customer support in hopes of resolving the issue.

Frustrations with Support

I contacted Rogers and spent a significant amount of time explaining my predicament. After multiple transfers, I ended up speaking with a supervisor who, unfortunately, could offer little more than the advice to contact the authorities in either Canada or my home country, Austria.

This recommendation felt inadequate. I was more than just a concerned citizen; as a parent, I was deeply worried about the privacy and safety of the child involved. I believed there must be a more efficient way for the ISP to address such a critical concern.

Seeking Additional Help

In an effort to escalate the situation, I reached out to several organizations, including the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. I also attempted to call the Canadian authorities through the number provided by Rogers, although I encountered difficulties getting through.

To my relief, I eventually received a response from Rogers confirming that the issue was being escalated and they would reach out to the webcam’s owner. As of now, the webcam stream has been made password-protected, a hopeful sign that privacy will be restored.

Continued Efforts and Support

Throughout this experience, I have been heartened by the support of those who have offered suggestions and words of encouragement. Sharing my story not only raises awareness about such alarming issues but also highlights the importance of action when encountering a potential violation of privacy.

For anyone faced with a similar scenario, I recommend contacting relevant authorities directly and documenting your communications with the ISP. It’s essential to be persistent, as the safety of children should always be a priority.

I will continue to update on this matter as I receive more information. Thank you to all who have reached out and supported me in this endeavor; your encouragement means a great deal.

Important Contacts

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One Comment

  1. Thank you for sharing your serious concerns and the steps you’ve already taken. When dealing with sensitive issues like publicly accessible webcam feeds involving minors, it’s vital to act promptly and systematically. Here are some additional steps you might consider:

    • Report to Law Enforcement: Since this involves the potential exploitation and privacy violation of a minor, contact local law enforcement agencies immediately. Many countries have specialized cybercrime units that handle such cases.
    • Contact the Web Hosting Provider or Network Owner: Use tools like WHOIS lookup to identify the web hosting provider or ISP associated with the webcam feed, and report the abuse directly to them. They often have procedures for removing malicious or inappropriate content.
    • Report to Child Exploitation Authorities: In addition to local law enforcement, consider reporting the incident to organizations such as National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or similar entities in your country—they have specialized channels for such reports.
    • Document Everything: Keep detailed records of all communications, screenshots of the webcam stream, and any relevant URLs or contact information. This documentation can be crucial if authorities need evidence.

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