Encountering a Public Webcam Stream in a Child’s Bedroom: A Call for Action

In this digital age, the safety and privacy of our children must be a top priority. Recently, I faced a troubling situation while browsing Shodan.io, a search engine that reveals devices connected to the internet. To my shock, I discovered a public webcam streaming from a child’s bedroom, belonging to a customer of the Canadian ISP, Rogers.

Concerned for the child’s safety, I promptly reached out to Rogers’ customer support, hoping they would take swift action. However, my experience was far from satisfactory. After explaining the urgent nature of the situation to a support representative and then being transferred to a supervisor, I found myself at an impasse. The supervisor directed me to contact the authorities in Austria or Canadian authorities without offering any tangible solutions. This left me feeling frustrated and helpless.

As a parent of three, the thought of a child’s private space being broadcast online is deeply disturbing. I took the initiative to compile a transcript of my interaction with Rogers support to share my experience and raise awareness. Here’s an overview of my communication with them:

Support Interaction Summary:

I began by expressing my concerns regarding the public webcam feed, emphasizing that the webcam owner likely had no knowledge of the exposure. After providing the IP address, the support staff initially assured assistance but ultimately stated that I would need to involve local authorities.

When pressed for further help, the response remained vague, indicating that my wellbeing and that of the child depended on the police’s intervention. Unfortunately, this approach felt inadequate given the pressing nature of the situation.

In the midst of my attempts, I decided to escalate the issue further. I contacted several organizations, including the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. I also reached out to the relevant email address at Rogers, hoping for a more effective resolution.

Positive Developments

I want to share some encouraging updates regarding the matter:

• On January 26, I received notification that the webcam owner acknowledged the issue, and the video feed has since been secured with password protection. This is a significant step towards safeguarding the child’s privacy.

• Additionally, I received an email from Rogers indicating that they have escalated the situation and will be contacting the webcam owner directly.

I greatly appreciate the support and helpful suggestions offered by the community during this time. It’s heartening to see that when we come together, we can effect change.

Moving Forward