A Taiwanese investigator and his wife must pay a neighbor NT$250,000 for secretly recording the sounds and conversations in the apartment above them, a ruling that strengthens privacy protection for renters and homeowners.

• A Bureau of Investigation officer surnamed Huang and his wife hid a sound collector and recording gear in their ceiling to capture the upstairs unit.
• The couple had repeatedly complained about footsteps, doors and a washing machine running late at night; the neighbor denied making the noise.
• Taipei District Court ordered damages of NT$250,000, and the High Court has now thrown out the appeal, making the case final.
• The recording targeted a private home in Taipei's Da'an district, one of the city's most expensive areas.

Outlook: The final ruling sets a clear warning that neighbor noise disputes do not justify secret recording, and offenders can expect to pay.