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Through The Peephole

July 20, 2009

A high-profile hotel peeping tom case may spell the beginning of the end for an old hotel security staple: the peephole.

Erin AndrewsErin Andrews, a famously attractive reporter for ESPN, was videotaped in the nude in her (unidentified) hotel room through a peephole. The video, which was made without her knowledge or permission, was then posted and distributed online last week. 

Andrews and ESPN plan to sue over the incident. Whether the hotel is at fault, either directly or indirectly, remains publicly unknown.

The video was apparently made using a reverse-peephole lens, which can be purchased online or made at home fairly easily. I’m not linking to any such instructions on how to make reverse-peepholes for obvious reasons, but suffice to say it was a quick Google search.

The Andrews episode is garnering a good deal of Internet buzz today, both due to her popularity and because of the sickening unease it no doubt raises among members of the traveling public. 

A similarly disturbing incident happened earlier this year in Florida, when a room at a Quality Inn was found to have had its peephole reversed.

It begs the question: Does this mark the beginning of the end for peepholes as a hotel security item? Beyond installing expensive security cameras at every doorway and closed-circuit TV in every room—which is already becoming popular at luxury hotels but which isn’t really feasible for mid-scale—is there any way around installing peepholes?

Posted by Adam Kirby on July 20, 2009 | Comments (15)
Industries: Technology

September 10, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
mark. commented:

Interesting story but how would hotel management teams handle the issue at New York's glass-fronted Manhattan? I wouldn't know where to start! hotel.warrings.co.uk/news/news-hotel-insurance-and-guests-taking-off-clothes.php


July 22, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Adam Kirby commented:

I wear loafers--no shoelaces necessary.


July 22, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
smarter than kirby commented:

Adam Kirby how do you even tie your shoes in the morning? When you wrote this excellent tome on hotel security did you not stop to think that all that would be necessary is a small piece of metal, plastic or anything that the guest can place over the hole? This certainly spells the end for the hotel industry. Brilliant.


July 21, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
DWDREZ@gmail.cpm commented:

What nonsense! The peephole is for the protection of the person in the room, to see who it is that may want access as a visitor. All the hotel has to do is have a little door on a hinge over the peephole on the inside and that's the end of it. Apartment buildings have those also. Dieter Seelig


July 21, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Hotel Clybaun commented:

So did ESPN need a ratings boost??!


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Adam Kirby commented:

It's true that hotel staff will be more aware of it... but the problem is that it works in reverse, too. Think about how many people previously had no idea that you could create a reverse lens and look through peepholes that now know...


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
hhotelconsult commented:

I dunno.. this is one case, and now more people (especially hotel staff and security) will be aware of someone doing stuff like this. But the idea of the peep hole going away seems hasty... the concept of the peephole *IS* security. I think the point of the flippy flap on the door side of the peep hole solves this, and then doesn't jeapordize the guest in having to open the door just a little bit to see who is outside. We have all seen dozens of movies like that... no peep hole, they chain the door open it two inches to check, and BLAMMO! Kicked in door from the bad guys. Happens every time. I still use my peep hole... I like it. =)


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
hotel.gm commented:

The identity of the hotel is of no consequence unless the property was negligent in some way. How did this person know which room to target? The bigger issue in my opinion are the legal and/or moral obligations of the sites that posted what thay had to know were illegally obtained images. These are the folks that need disciplining in court.


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Adam Kirby commented:

Harvey: I didn't identify the hotel because, to my knowledge, it hasn't been made public. If anyone can credibly identify it, I'll add that info to the post.


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Glenn commented:

Check out the Digital Door Viewer. HI-RES optics replace old peep hole technolgy: www.firstviewsecurity.com. Product is already installed in properties globally and is even available in the Marriot Rewards catalog.


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Harvey commented:

Why isn't the hotel being identified? I'm glad they legally threatend the websites that were running the video to cease, but the property should be identified.


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
john commented:

Just put a cover on the peep hole inside the room


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Melissa commented:

Didn't anyone notice someone in the hallway peeping through the peephole with a camera?!?! I thought this was a upscale hotel. Aren't there surveillence cameras in the hallways?


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
Marie commented:

Go back to the old days where they was a little door/hatch covering it and you had to open it to get to the peep hole.


July 20, 2009
In response to: Through The Peephole
joe commented:

Put a piece of tape over the peephole. Older rooms had a brass disk that swung open and closed over the hole.

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