U.S. News
Amazon Sued For Selling Hidden Cameras After Underage Girl Lawsuit
By CM Chaney · December 21, 2023
In brief…
- West Virginia man Darrel Wells is criminally charged with secretly recording a Brazilian exchange student he was hosting using a hidden camera bought on Amazon
- The underage girl is also suing Amazon, claiming they enabled the illegal spying by selling the hidden camera and failing to remove it from their platform
- Amazon inspected the camera 3 times under their Fulfillment by Amazon program, but allowed continued selling despite potential for harm
- Similar hidden cameras are still available for purchase on Amazon's website, though this specific clothes hook camera appears to have been removed
A legal case has been brought against Amazon, alleging the company enabled invasive secret surveillance of an underage girl by a West Virginia man who purchased a hidden camera via their website.
The man, Darrel Wells, reportedly used a spy camera disguised as a clothes hook which he bought on Amazon to secretly record video of a teenage Brazilian foreign exchange student living in his home in 2021.
Prosecutors claim he amassed over 600 images of child pornography. Wells now faces multiple charges of illegally invading privacy and possessing child porn.
Meanwhile, the underage girl is also pursuing legal action directly against Amazon in civil court. She argues that by allowing the continued sale of the hidden camera, Amazon facilitated the ability for Mr. Wells to spy on her privately in places like the bathroom.
The surveillance device was apparently sold through Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon program, meaning it underwent Amazon inspections intended to restrict prohibited or unsafe products.
However, the company opted not to halt sales, despite knowing hidden cameras risk enabling crime. A judge earlier this year rejected Amazon’s bid to dismiss the case altogether.
While the precise clothes hook camera from the case appears to have finally been barred from sale on Amazon’s site, many near-identical hidden camera products remain widely listed and available for purchase.
Basic search terms reveal cameras concealed in ordinary household objects that show no external evidence they can record video and audio.
Amazon did not provide comment when contacted by Fox News. The legal proceedings against both Mr. Wells and Amazon continue.