휴대폰에 붙이기만 하면…불법촬영 카메라 5초 만에 찾아낸다

A new AI technology called "Sweep LED" has been developed to quickly find hidden cameras in spaces prone to illegal recording, such as hotels, shared accommodations, and changing rooms. Using just a smartphone and a device emitting LED light for around $10, the technology can locate camera lenses, making it a promising tool for preventing illegal recording crimes.

The "Sweep LED" technique, developed by a team of researchers from KAIST and research institutions in Singapore, analyzes reflection patterns on an object's surface to detect hidden cameras. A modular accessory, similar to a phone case, can be attached to a smartphone, and when exposed to a light source, the device quickly identifies the camera lens.

Unlike traditional handheld detector, which requires users to physically locate the bright spot on the lens, the Sweep LED system integrates artificial intelligence to analyze the movement and shape changes of reflections under various lighting angles. In real-world tests with 30 objects, the system achieved approximately 94% detection accuracy, with the entire camera identification process taking under five seconds.

The cost of the essential components in the LED case is under $10, making it affordable enough for widespread adoption in smartphone accessories or consumer products in the future. Professor Han-jun from KAIST, the lead researcher, emphasized that illegal camera recording poses a serious threat to people's safety and privacy in everyday settings.

The study, led by research fellow Dr. Yuon Jeonghyuk, was first presented at the ACM MOBISYS 2026 international conference last June.