Commercial detectors marketed to help domestic abuse victims find hidden spying devices may provide a false sense of security, according to a study by University College London's computer science department. Researchers found that many of these consumer tools, which claim to identify hidden cameras, microphones, or trackers, often fail to adequately assist users.
The study involved 34 participants searching for hidden surveillance devices in a simulated living room. Participants missed 67% of devices when searching without tools, which only marginally improved to a 59% miss rate when using detectors. Lead author Akhil Polamarasetty noted a significant disparity between the capabilities of spying devices and the tools available to detect them.
Researchers identified approximately 1,000 covert surveillance products and 500 detection tools sold in the UK on platforms such as Amazon, AliExpress, and eBay. These hidden devices, often concealed in everyday items like USB chargers or plush toys, are frequently marketed as home security tools but are, according to Polamarasetty, "essentially designed for spying on people."
Many participants in the experiment reported difficulties interpreting detector readings, while some tools produced false positives or missed surveillance objects entirely. Polamarasetty stated that most detectors are not designed with the typical consumer in mind and can emit loud sounds, making them unsafe for use by individuals living with a perpetrator.
Refuge, a UK domestic abuse charity, has observed a "notable rise" in victims reporting hidden microphones or cameras in their homes. Bo Bottomley, the charity's policy manager, urged the government to review the design, safety testing, marketing, and sale of these products and to take regulatory action.