A worker at Mobile Planet, a phone repair shop in Auckland's Sylvia Park, has been suspended following accusations of attempting to download intimate photographs from a customer’s phone, The New Zealand Herald reported.
The incident was brought to attention when the customer confronted the store manager, with her friend recording the interaction. The video, shared online yesterday, has since gone viral, attracting nearly 250,000 views and widespread outrage.
The customer alleged that after retrieving her phone, she discovered someone had tried to airdrop her nude photos to another phone. "This is such an invasion of privacy," she declared.
In the video, the manager is seen trying to explain the employee's actions, initially claiming that "he did not look at the photos," but later admitting that they had "taken a photo" to test the camera. The person recording the incident claimed the manager checked the employee’s phone to ensure the photos were not there but refused to provide evidence.
The women were directed to the customer service desk, and during the confrontation, the accused staff member appeared to faint and fell to the ground.
Mobile Planet informed the Herald that the employee had been "immediately suspended" pending an investigation. The company declined further comment during the investigation, stating: "We believe it is imperative to allow the investigative process to proceed without interference or speculation."
The management emphasised their commitment to high standards of conduct and cooperation with authorities: "We take such matters very seriously and are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of conduct within our organisation. Our management team is currently cooperating with the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the alleged misconduct."
A police spokeswoman indicated that the incident had yet to be reported to the police. "At this early stage, it doesn’t immediately appear the matter has been reported to police. We strongly encourage those involved to contact us as soon as possible so we can make appropriate follow-up inquiries. This can be via our 105 phone service or at any police station."
Sylvia Park mall management confirmed their awareness of the incident and mentioned that the shop was conducting its own investigation. The customer has also been approached for comment.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner commented on the situation, stressing that individuals with access to others' personal information, including photographs or videos, have "very high obligations to treat that information with respect."
The commissioner's office reiterated that personal information should be handled with care, emphasising the importance of privacy: "Privacy is about the dignity of the individual, and the value organisations place on that."
They advised contacting the police in cases of significantly harmful privacy breaches involving sensitive information, such as nude images. "Police have stronger powers to address this concerning behaviour. They could potentially seek prosecution under the Crimes Act, and there could also be issues under the Harmful Digital Communications Act."
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