Police in Taichung are investigating an Under Armour store after a woman accused the retailer of filming inside a changing room. The incident occurred at the LaLaport shopping mall. A user named ruby.198318 detailed the situation on Threads, and her post has since amassed over 1 million views. Consequently, the woman and her friend plan to pursue legal action against the store.
The friend used the changing room to try on a sports bra. She then noticed a security camera positioned unusually, which may have captured reflections from the mirror inside the room. Therefore the women filmed the camera and approached an employee to express their concern. An employee told them that customers had complained about the changing room cameras since the store opened three years ago.
The store manager initially made them wait two hours to view footage. That footage did not show the friend entering the room or changing. However after police arrived, the manager provided the full recording. That recording clearly showed the woman trying on the sports bra. Subsequently, the Taichung Police Department’s Third Precinct received the report yesterday. Officers have notified the store and the vendor to appear for questioning. The case has now forwarded to the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office on suspicion of invasion of privacy and creating non-consensual sexual images.
LaLaport owner Mitsui Fudosan Group has ordered investigations of its three outlet malls and two LaLaport malls in Taiwan. LaLaport Taichung stated that the cameras were installed by the vendor. Nevertheless building management works with retailers to check camera angles and placement on each floor. The mall said it would comply with the investigations.
This case follows recent controversy over major aesthetic medicine chains allegedly installing surveillance cameras disguised as smoke detectors in consultation rooms. Subsequently, the National Police Agency has ordered joint inspections nationwide, targeting medical clinics, gyms, and sports centers. This changing room incident has thus raised broader concerns about privacy protection in retail environments across Taiwan.
