Power banks with a dark secret: Men jailed for selling hidden surveillance devices

Four men in China have been sentenced to jail terms for illegally producing and selling hidden surveillance devices disguised as everyday items, according to the Qingpu District People's Procuratorate.

The sentences, ranging from three to six months, were handed down recently in Shanghai.

Authorities said the two main distributors, surnamed Song and Yang, operated from outside Shanghai and sold the disguised devices, including power banks, on e-commerce platforms. These power banks could secretly record audio, track location, and capture conversations remotely via a mobile app, all without any outward indication.

The sellers used vague descriptions to avoid detection by e-commerce platforms and communicated with buyers through social media to evade regulations.

Police arrested the two manufacturers, surnamed Xie and Chen, in Shenzhen in March 2023. The men produced the hidden surveillance equipment at their homes, disguising them not just as power banks but also as phone chargers, power strips, and car air fresheners.

The defendants were charged with illegal production and sale of specialized eavesdropping equipment and received sentences of 3 to 6 months, suspended for 5 months to a year. They were also fined between 3,000 yuan and 10,000 yuan ($410 to $1,380).

The procuratorate's investigation revealed nationwide sales of the devices, with buyers motivated by personal or business conflicts. The procuratorate warned that purchasing and using such equipment is illegal as well, regardless of intent. Evidence obtained through these means could be inadmissible in court, and violators face potential criminal prosecution.