Resources and learning

Retailers and other businesses need to think twice before posting CCTV images on social media platforms like community pages on Facebook.

Posting CCTV footage on social media significantly increases the risk of harm because it can be seen and on-shared by a wide audience. Once something is uploaded to the internet, it can be copied, screenshotted, saved, and shared, even if the original post is deleted.

Posting a person’s image can cause serious emotional and reputational harm, especially if it is inaccurate, or if no legal authority exists for the disclosure.

Generally, you shouldn't publish personal information about your customers on social media or other platforms (such as review sites) if your customers have not authorised you to do that.

If you believe an individual has committed a crime, the appropriate response is to contact the Police.

Factors to consider

The impact of posting images of people in stores or online can be huge, with children and young people especially at risk. There can also be tikanga Māori considerations, which can be significant and sensitive for Māori because of the tapu concerning the human body and images, including tā moko, mataora or moko kauae.