Woman covertly filmed for 'humiliating' social media content - then told to pay

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Woman covertly filmed for 'humiliating' social media content - then told to pay2 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleGeorgia PonciaSouth East Investigations Team Alice was filmed by a man wearing smart glasses without her knowledgeAlice - not her real name - says she was covertly filmed by a man wearing smart glasses, who then requested money to remove the video from social media. She contacted the man who posted the video, telling him it made her feel "humiliated". But when she asked for it to be taken down, was told he would only remove it as a "paid service".

Alice is one of many women who have spoken to the about the distress they have endured after being recorded and posted online without their knowledge or consent. The contacted the man who filmed and posted the video of Alice. He refused to be interviewed, but in an email said he "does not seek to cause distress or harm".

The Details

'Complete shock'Alice was walking into a London shopping centre when she was approached by a man wearing smart glasses. She says she had no idea she was being filmed. "In the moment I just thought 'OK this guy is just trying to talk to me, to chat me up'," she said.

"I was hoping that he would leave me alone eventually but he did actually follow me. "The video was posted on social media and viewed about 40,000 times, though Alice only found out about it after a friend sent it to her. "My initial reaction was complete shock," she said.

"He had no phone, he did not have a camera directly in my face. "The videos are often posted on social media under the guise of giving dating advice to other men online. Alice contacted the following an investigation which exposed how smart glasses are being used to create harmful content by male influencers, after a woman from Brighton spoke out.

What Experts Say

'It made me feel exploited'Alice contacted the account that posted the video of her, asking for it to be taken down. She told the man who posted it that it made her feel "humiliated". In the email she received back, he said he would remove it as a "paid service".

Alice says she was shocked by this response. "It made me feel exploited, powerless," she said. But she added she never considered paying the money, and reported the incident to the police.

The Metropolitan Police said that an investigation was opened, but "despite initial enquiries, officers were unable to progress the investigation due to limited information". Alice received an email in response to her request for the video to be taken down from social mediaThe contacted the man that filmed Alice. He refused to give an interview or reveal his identity.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.