Early resolved case summary #2015-01: Store stops practice of posting pictures of suspected shoplifters - July 2015
A customer complained that a department store was displaying photographs of individuals on a bulletin board to identify suspected shoplifters. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) advised the store that posting such photographs without consent contravened PIPEDA. The store agreed to remove the pictures and discontinue the practice, opting instead to work with the police.
- Public display of photographs of suspected shoplifters without consent
- Application of PIPEDA to photographs taken from video surveillance
Complaint resolved early
The store's practice of publicly displaying photographs of individuals suspected of shoplifting without their consent constituted a contravention of PIPEDA, as these photographs were considered personal information.
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The store removed the pictures from the bulletin board and discontinued the practice of publicly displaying photographs of suspected shoplifters.
- PIPEDA
This summary is informational only and not legal advice.