DistantNews
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan /Crime & Justice

Airiti Exposed for Hidden Camera Voyeurism! Offers Refunds But Demands Waiver of Lawsuits; Mayor Lu Shiow-yen Outraged

From Liberty Times · (13m ago) Chinese Critical tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Taiwanese authorities are investigating the beauty group Airiti for allegedly installing hidden cameras in its clinics.
  • The company reportedly offered full refunds but required customers to waive their right to legal action.
  • Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen criticized this practice, stating the city government will send representatives to two branches to address the issue.

A shocking scandal has erupted concerning the prominent beauty and medical aesthetics group, Airiti, with allegations of hidden cameras being installed in at least ten branches in Taiwan, primarily north of Taichung. These devices were reportedly disguised as smoke detectors, raising serious privacy concerns for clients. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that over 290 consumer complaints have been filed nationwide, with 37 originating from Taichung alone. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has expressed strong disapproval of Airiti's alleged response, stating, "Airiti promised full refunds, but required consumers to waive their legal rights. This is unacceptable." The city government plans to dispatch officials to two Airiti branches in Taichung to ensure proper compensation is provided without infringing on customers' legal recourse. The investigation, led by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office, has already resulted in the detention of the company's president, Chang Ru-shan, his special assistant, Chang Yuan-ling, and equipment supplier Hsieh Chin-heng. This incident has sent ripples of outrage through Taiwan, highlighting a disturbing breach of trust and a potential pattern of exploitation within the beauty industry. The demand for consumers to forfeit their legal rights in exchange for a refund is particularly egregious, suggesting an attempt to silence victims and evade full accountability. The public's trust in such establishments has been severely shaken, and the government's firm stance is crucial in upholding consumer rights and ensuring justice.

Airiti promised full refunds, but required consumers to waive their legal rights. This is unacceptable.

โ€” Lu Shiow-yenTaichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen criticizes Airiti's alleged practice of demanding consumers waive legal rights in exchange for refunds following a hidden camera scandal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.