Pokémon Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Hidden Bathroom Cameras by Ex-Executive

Ben Tsai, a former engineering director at a well-known gaming company, was arrested in July 2026 following serious allegations related to footage recorded within the company’s Bellevue offices. Now, the company is facing a class action lawsuit from a former employee who claims that it did not adequately protect its staff.

According to reports, the lawsuit alleges that Tsai filmed women and children in compromising situations while they were using the bathroom. The company has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the situation.

In January 2026, Tsai was charged with first-degree voyeurism after a hidden camera was found in a Starbucks. Legal documents indicate that he was monitoring the camera feed live on his phone while sitting outside the restroom.

During questioning, Tsai admitted to placing cameras to spy on family members and in grocery stores. Authorities later uncovered hundreds of videos featuring adult nudity and child sexual abuse, some of which he reportedly recorded himself. A police report from January noted that Tsai claimed he was “mainly curious about transgender people and was not attracted to children.” He stated that he had recorded footage fewer than 50 times since 2017, but investigators found 89 videos taken from the company’s offices. Four individuals identified in the footage reported that they did not consent to being recorded.

Currently held at a correctional facility on $500,000 bail, Tsai intends to plead not guilty to all charges, as stated by his legal team. In addition to the voyeurism charges, he faces counts of first-degree possession and distribution of material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct, along with second-degree possession.

The lawsuit claims that the company failed to provide adequate training for Tsai and did not take “reasonable efforts” to manage his behavior and protect other employees. It also contends that Tsai’s actions violated Washington’s anti-discrimination laws.

The creators of the popular trading card game are looking to tackle issues related to resale practices and incidents of violence.