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Two 18-year-old high school students are planning to take their school to court for violating their privacy by installing cameras in classrooms and airing their intimate behavior in public.
They will seek a public apology in the suit likely to be filed next month, lawyers revealed.
Wei Gang and his girlfriend, both grade three students of Shanghai Fuxing High School, suddenly found themselves in the spotlight on April 7 when the school broadcast a series of irregular actions captured by the cameras, including the couple kissing.
"The school told us the cameras were installed to monitor students during examination. But look how they have been abused," said Wei, who is now working part-time at a restaurant to earn the 3,000-yuan (US$361) attorney fee.
"The cameras have been on throughout, not just during the exams. I have even been scolded by my teachers, who found me playing cards in class," said Wei.
"As far as I know, they 'caught' us kissing between December 2001 and February last year, for which I was duly reprimanded but they still aired the film," Wei added.
Although the school tried amateurishly to alter the duo's faces, students instantly recognized them.
Wei complained that the episode had a strong negative effect on him and his girlfriend, with their peers mocking them.
"Such was our depression, we even planned to commit suicide by jumping off the fifth floor of the school," he added.
Direct fallout of the embarrassing exposure was that both the students failed to get good marks in the college entrance examination this year.
"I couldn't focus on my studies. It totally destroyed my mood. My marks only allowed me to enter an ordinary university, while my girlfriend's score barely reached the requirement of key universities," Wei said.
He claimed both of them could have done better, as Fuxing is one of the best high schools in the city and they were doing well academically.
After the exam, the pair consulted several lawyers and finally decided to hire two attorneys from Shanghai Xinyun Law Firm to represent them.
"It's pretty obvious the school violated the students' privacy and tarnished their reputation," said Si Weijiang, one of the attorneys from the law firm.
According to Si, the duo can seek damages for mental anguish though "we haven't decided the exact sum yet."
"It is illegal to use cameras to monitor people, except for special purposes," Si added.
Both the school and the local education authority refused to comment on this case.
However, the school had earlier said broadcasting the tapes was a means of educating the students.
(eastday.com July 8, 2003)
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