Privacy commissioner warns retailers about ‘walls of shame’

Retailers should report retail crime to police rather than take matters into their own hands, the privacy commissioner says. (Image: Getty)

John Anthony

Wed, 24 Sep 2025

The privacy commissioner is warning retailers that they risk breaking the law if they share photos of alleged shoplifters online or on a public wall of shame.Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said he had been engaging with retailers who face threats to staff and customers, as well as ongoing shoplifting.“Businesses sharing photos online or on a public wall of shame might think it’s a quicker way to catch possible shoplifters, or a useful deterrent, but it’s a blunt tool that can cause real harm and potentially break th...

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