Shop workers union seeks assault classification for filming staff without consent
The union representing shop workers has called for filming of staff without their consent to be classified as assault, aiming to protect workers from harassment.
Narrative Synthesis
Neutral news article compiled by integrating coverage details from all reporting stations.
The union representing shop workers, Osdaw, has described the filming of retail staff without their knowledge or permission as an epidemic and is calling for it to be classified as assault. The demand comes amid growing concern over the number of videos of shop workers being shared online, often without their consent.
According to the retail trust charity, 30% of workers reported that they or a colleague had been filmed without permission last year. The British Retail Consortium also recorded around 1,600 incidents of assault or threats of violence against shop workers every day between 2024 and 2025. While the law has been tightened so that those found guilty of assault or threats can now face prison time or an unlimited fine, the union says the problem of filming is harder to tackle.
There is currently no specific legislation that prevents people from filming in stores, unless the retailer has a notice prohibiting it. In that case, if the person filming is asked to leave and refuses, they can be prosecuted for trespass. The issue is further complicated by the rise of smart glasses made by big tech firms, which allow people to film from their point of view without others always knowing they are being recorded.
In a notable example, one shop worker told the BBC's media show how he unwittingly ended up in a video posted on TikTok by the former broadcaster Michael Barrymore. Barrymore has built a following by posting videos from his smart glasses, where he interacts with members of the public during trips to shops. He did not respond to a request for comment.
Experts say the law has not kept pace with the data protection issues sometimes caused by filming with smart glasses. The main legal cover remains the UK's Data Protection Act 2018, which mirrors the EU's GDPR, and an updated AI Act due to start in February 2026, which is mainly aimed at what can be done with AI and creating images of people. But there is no clear law aimed specifically at this type of filming.
Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and one of the big smart glasses brands, told the BBC that people should behave responsibly when using any technology and that it has teams dedicated to limiting and combating misuse. The shop workers union said it is simply common courtesy to ask for permission before filming.
On screen
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Key Claims
Factual or political claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| A survey by a retail trust charity found that 30% of workers reported being filmed without consent last year. | |
| Meta said people should behave responsibly when using any technology and that it has teams dedicated to limiting and combating misuse. | |
| The British Retail Consortium reported around 1,600 incidents per day of assault or threats against shop workers between 2024 and 2025. |
Channel Perspectives
Editorial focus, emphasis angles, and key quotes from each reporting news station.
The report focused on the union's call for filming to be classified as assault, framing it as an epidemic. It provided detailed context on the legal gaps, the role of smart glasses, and a specific example involving Michael Barrymore. The tone was factual and explanatory, with a clear emphasis on the lack of specific legislation and the complications posed by new technology.
- “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 and in that case, if the person filming is asked to leave and they don't leave, they can be prosecuted for trespass.”
- “The shop workers union said it's just common courtesy to ask for permission before filming.”
Bulletin Timeline
Chronological list of news reports tracked for this story.