Pokémon faces class-action lawsuit over hidden bathroom cameras

A former employee has filed a class-action lawsuit against The Pokémon Company International following the discovery of hidden cameras in the company's Bellevue, Washington offices. The lawsuit, filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, accuses the company of negligence in failing to protect its staff and visitors from a former executive.

The legal action stems from the July 2026 arrest of Ben Tsai. Tsai was the Director of Engineering at the Bellevue headquarters. Police arrested him after discovering a network of hidden cameras placed in corporate restrooms, local Starbucks locations, and his private residence. He faces criminal charges including first-degree voyeurism and dealing in explicit depictions of minors.

According to TMZ, the plaintiff alleges that Tsai attempted to record women and children while they were undressing. The lawsuit claims The Pokémon Company International failed to properly supervise Tsai or act on warning signs during his employment between 2017 and July 25, 2026.

89 videos from the Bellevue office

Forensic investigations into Tsai's devices revealed hundreds of secret recordings. Investigators identified 89 specific videos recorded inside the bathrooms at the Pokémon facility. The proposed class-action lawsuit seeks to represent anyone who utilized those facilities during the multi-year timeframe. This includes current employees, former staff members, corporate visitors, and minors.

The inclusion of minors in the lawsuit reflects the nature of the Bellevue office. As a major corporate hub, the facility frequently hosts family members of employees and external guests. The discovery of recordings involving children elevated the initial investigation into federal offenses regarding the possession and distribution of explicit materials.

Corporate oversight in Washington

The Pokémon Company International operates as the subsidiary responsible for managing the global brand outside of Asia. Established in 2001 to handle licensing, merchandise, and media distribution for the massive franchise created by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, the Bellevue office is the central hub for Western operations. The location oversees the Pokémon Trading Card Game, localized animated series, and major competitive events.

Tsai held a senior leadership position. As Director of Engineering, he had significant access and authority within the Bellevue facility. A lawsuit of this scale targets the corporate oversight structure of that office, arguing that management had a responsibility to maintain a safe environment and failed to detect a long-running surveillance operation.

Parallel legal proceedings

Tsai remains facing severe criminal charges independent of the civil lawsuit. The criminal case focuses on the direct violations of privacy and the exploitation of minors. The new civil case shifts focus to corporate liability and compensation for the victims whose privacy was violated on company property.

The Pokémon Company International hasn't issued a public statement regarding the class-action filing. The civil case will proceed through the courts in Washington state as investigators continue to identify individuals captured in the recordings.