What I recall:
-- Most CCD's have some IR sensitivity.
-- The Sony comes with a IR light so you can "light up" an area at night with the IR light
-- And supposedly a standard IR filter (that filter out non-IR light) helps a lot.

Finally, there was a big scare in Hong Kong, IIRC -- with women not likely ANYONE with a camcorder (IIRC there some camcorders were smashed).

Tony