Taiwan’s leading medical aesthetics chain, Ai’erli (愛爾麗), is facing a major scandal after being accused of systematically installing hidden cameras across its clinics. According to prosecutors and police, 18 branches nationwide were equipped with pinhole cameras disguised as smoke detectors. The footage allegedly captured numerous women, including minors, often in states of undress during treatments such as bikini hair removal and body slimming procedures. The incident came to light on May 1, 2026, when a 30-year-old female patient at the Banqiao, New Taipei City branch noticed a suspicious device on the ceiling during a body contouring session. Staff claimed it was a standard smoke detector, but the patient used a reverse image search on her phone to identify it as a hidden camera. Police were called, and the device was confirmed to contain a lens. Investigations revealed that all 18 branches had identical disguised cameras. Some branch servers were removed or formatted before police raids, and a supplier surnamed Xie was reportedly dispatched from Taipei to dismantle equipment, allegedly in an attempt to destroy evidence. Stickers with IP addresses, usernames, and passwords were found near the cameras, suggesting remote viewing and downloading capabilities.
Initially, Ai’erli issued a statement claiming the cameras were for “ensuring medical quality and protecting medication and equipment safety,” denying intent to violate privacy. This sparked public backlash, leading singer Xie Jinyan, the brand’s endorser, to publicly sever ties, demanding the immediate cessation of her image use. On May 7, the group issued an apology, pledging full cooperation with judicial investigations and offering refunds for unused treatments. Founded in 2002, Ai’erli is a major player in Taiwan’s medical aesthetics market, with businesses spanning device distribution, dentistry, postpartum care, biotech, and preventive medicine. National Chengchi University Associate Professor Fang Nianxuan, a digital sexual violence researcher, told BBC Chinese: “The number of secret recordings in this society has exceeded imagination. Ai’erli is just one case. Technology has given people the opportunity to ‘hunt,’ creating a culture of ‘shooting without telling.’ This case once again reveals the prevalence and severity of secret filming.”
Victims have formed a self-help group with over 1,400 members, and a wave of refund demands is underway. Lawyer Li Xinting, herself an Ai’erli customer, noted that if the allegations are proven, they could involve criminal liability and civil damages for infringement of personality rights, privacy, and emotional distress. Taiwan’s Consumer Protection Office reported 251 online complaints as of May 7 evening. Taipei City’s Department of Legal Affairs said it had received nearly 50 complaints in a week and may consider a class-action lawsuit if the number of victims exceeds 20. The case has exposed regulatory gaps. Taiwan’s Medical Care Act requires patient consent for recording but lacks detailed guidelines. The Taiwan Medical Reform Foundation called for clear rules on “reasonable and necessary recording scenarios” to prevent clinics from becoming gray zones. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has ordered local health bureaus to conduct inspections, with fines up to NT$250,000 for privacy violations and potential suspension for severe cases.
The scandal has drawn comparisons to the “Creative Private Room” case, Taiwan’s largest sexual exploitation case, which involved 200,000 illicit videos and 4,000 victims. Ai’erli’s founder, Chang Ru-shan, and others have been detained on suspicion of breach of secrecy, violation of sexual privacy, and evidence tampering. Following Ai’erli, another clinic, Guangze Medical Aesthetics in Banqiao, was also found to have suspected hidden cameras, prompting police searches on May 8. The same day, Taipei and New Taipei City governments announced anti-hidden-camera inspections for saunas, gyms, and similar venues.
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 08, 2026