Discovering a public webcam feed of a child’s bedroom and reaching out to Rogers ISP—who showed no concern—what are the next steps?

Concern Over Public Webcam Stream: A Call to Action

Recently, I encountered a troubling situation while browsing through Shodan.io, a search engine that helps identify security vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) devices. I discovered a public webcam broadcasting live from a child’s bedroom, which raised immediate concerns about privacy and security. Recognizing the potential risks involved, I decided to contact the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of the webcam owner, Rogers Communications in Canada, to report my findings.

Initial Contact with Rogers

After spending a considerable amount of time explaining the situation to Rogers’ support team, I was connected to a supervisor who, unfortunately, was unable to provide the assistance I had hoped for. They suggested that I contact local authorities, either in Austria, where I reside, or Canadian authorities, leaving me feeling frustrated and dissatisfied with the response.

I expressed my concerns directly to support and reiterated the implications of a child’s privacy being at stake. Despite the urgency of the matter, the support representative insisted that the issue was beyond their reach and directed me to the authorities. I couldn’t help but feel that this response was inadequate, considering the sensitive nature of the situation.

Seeking Alternative Solutions

Realizing that waiting for authorities may not yield immediate action, I took additional steps by reaching out to several organizations for assistance:
Rogers Abuse Team: I emailed [email protected] in hopes they could address this critical privacy concern directly.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: I contacted this institution to escalate the matter regarding the public broadcast.
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security: I sought advice and potential intervention on the cybersecurity implications involved.

I also attempted to reach Canadian authorities directly through the provided contact number; however, I struggled to connect with the appropriate channels. As this didn’t appear to be a direct emergency, I planned to try again.

Positive Developments

As I continued to advocate for the child’s privacy, an update came through. The owner of the webcam was contacted, and fortunately, they implemented a password protection on the video feed, significantly enhancing the privacy measures. This response indicates that awareness has been raised, which is the first step in preventing such oversights in the future.

Community Support and Conclusion

I am incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and helpful suggestions from others who have reached out. This situation highlights the importance of community vigilance and collective action in safeguarding children’s privacy. It’s crucial that we remain

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One Comment

  1. Thank you for sharing your detailed experience and raising awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and privacy in IoT devices. In situations like this, here are some additional steps you might consider:

    • Document everything: Keep records of all communications with the ISP, authorities, and organizations you’ve contacted. This can be helpful if further action is needed.
    • Contact local law enforcement: Since the issue involves potential child endangerment and privacy violations, reporting the incident to your local police or cyber crime unit can be crucial. They may have more direct channels to investigate and intervene.
    • Leverage online reporting platforms: Use platforms like the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) to file formal complaints.
    • Report to platform hosting the device: If the webcam is hosted or accessible via a specific service or platform, report the vulnerability directly to them to facilitate prompt action.
    • Advocate for security best practices: Encourage device owners and ISPs to implement default passwords, encryption, and regular security updates to prevent similar incidents.
    • Stay informed and collaborate: Joining community groups or cybersecurity forums can provide additional support and collective knowledge to address such vulnerabilities.

    Remember,

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