Union calls for filming shop workers without consent to be assault
A shop workers union has called for the filming of staff without their consent to be classified as assault, aiming to protect employees from harassment and intimidation.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A shop workers union has called for the filming of staff without their consent to be classified as assault, saying the practice has become an epidemic. The union, Osdaw, argues that current laws do not adequately protect employees from harassment and intimidation when customers record them in stores.
According to the retail trust charity, 30% of workers reported that they or a colleague had been filmed without consent last year. The British Retail Consortium estimates that between 2024 and 2025 there were around 1,600 incidents every day of assault or threats of violence against shop workers. While the law has been tightened so that those found guilty of assault could face prison time or an unlimited fine, the union says the problem of filming is harder to tackle.
There is no specific legislation that prevents people from filming in stores unless the retailer has a notice up prohibiting it. In that case, if the person filming is asked to leave and does not, they can be prosecuted for trespass. The issue is further complicated by the rise of smart glasses, which allow people to film from their point of view without others knowing they are being recorded.
In one example, a shop worker recently told the BBC's media show how he unwittingly ended up in a video posted on TikTok by the former broadcaster Michael Barrymore, who has built a large following by posting videos from his smart glasses while interacting with members of the public on trips to the shops. Experts say the law has failed to keep up with the data protection issues sometimes caused by filming with these devices. The main legal framework is GDPR, mirrored in the UK as the Data Protection Act 2018, and an updated AI Act starting in February 2026, but there is no clear law aimed specifically at this type of filming.
Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is one of the big smart glass brands. A spokesperson said people should behave responsibly when using any technology, and that the company has teams dedicated to limiting and combating misuse. The union said it is just common courtesy to ask for permission before filming.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| 30% of workers reported being filmed without consent last year. | |
| There is no specific legislation against filming in stores unless a notice prohibits it. | |
| There were around 1,600 incidents per day of assault or threats against shop workers in 2024-2025. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the union's call to classify filming without consent as assault, highlighting the prevalence of such incidents and the legal gaps. It includes a specific example involving Michael Barrymore and smart glasses, and notes the lack of clear legislation. The tone is factual and neutral, presenting the union's perspective alongside legal context and industry response.
- “The shop workers union, Osdaw, is calling this an epidemic.”
- “There isn't actually any legislation which prevents people from filming in stores unless, of course, the retailer has a notice up prohibiting it”
- “the union says it's just common courtesy to ask for permission before filming.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.