#trending: ‘Wall of shame’ of alleged shoplifters in Yishun shop amuses netizens, but some ask if it is appropriate

SINGAPORE — Shoplifting is a perennial problem that many brick-and-mortar retailers grapple with. But it seems one beauty and home product store in Yishun has come up with a rather unconventional way to deal with the issue.

Content creator Nurul Syafiqa Mohamed Noor posted a TikTok video on Tuesday (Jan 10) showing a narrow wall in the shop covered in laminated pictures of shoplifters allegedly caught red-handed.

The pictures are believed to be taken from video surveillance footage.

Ms Syafiqa said in a comment that the clip was taken at a Venus Beauty outlet in Northpoint City.

“This shop has a wall of people stealing. Not a ‘wall of fame’ (but a) wall of people stealing. Like, what?” said Ms Syafiqa as she narrates off-camera.

A number of alleged perpetrators who were apparently successfully nabbed were displayed more prominently with larger photos and captions at the bottom describing their purported crimes. 

One of the captions accompanying the photo of a hooded person with bright pink hair read: “Attempted to steal hair dye. Caught and paid for her crime.”

Another caption below a photo of a middle-aged woman read: “Stole for two consecutive days. Caught on the second day.”

Purported shoplifting incidents that took place at other Venus Beauty outlets at Jurong Point, Toa Payoh and Bukit Panjang were also featured.

“I know this is to stop shoplifters but man, if I (were in) that I would be super embarrassed,” wrote Ms Syafiqa in the video’s caption.

It is not clear if the alleged shoplifters were shown on the wall with their consent or if the cases were reported to the police.

TODAY has reached out to Venus Beauty for comment. It has 28 stores across the island, its website says. 

The 18-second clip has chalked up over 63,700 views and 5,600 likes as of Wednesday night.

Many TikTok users were amused by the display, dubbing it the “wall of shame”.

One person commented: “No wonder every time I step (into the store), they’re suddenly very interested (in) what I'm looking for.”

Another person joked: “When you frame it like this, I would be tempted to do it.” 

Someone confessed: “I always look at the wall of shame (to kill time) while my partner gets her stuff.” 

A few netizens praised the staff’s creativity, while others claimed that similar walls of shame can be found at various Venus Beauty outlets.

One person wrote: “They do so as a reminder for thieves to stop their shameful habit…Venus (has) got guts!” 

A few online users, however, raised concerns over the legality and appropriateness of such a practice.

User “jtxxviiixciv” questioned: “Do they deserve to be treated as such? Did those people in the photos give their consent? Didn’t the management call the police? PDPA?”

PDPA refers to the Personal Data Protection Act, which spells out a baseline standard of protection for personal data in Singapore.

Some netizens were of the opinion that the people featured on the wall did not have the right to object to having their faces publicised as they themselves had run afoul of the law.

User “Ra Voo” said: “They took the shop’s product without consent also. What consent are we talking about?”

WHAT ARE THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS?

According to lawyers Luo Ling Ling and Sharifah Nabilah from Luo Ling Ling LLC, individuals responsible for the creation of such displays could potentially be in violation of the PDPA and the Protection of Harassment Act (POHA).

They could also run foul of defamation laws under the Penal Code, if the accusation of shoplifting is not true. 

Ms Luo said that while the PDPA allows for the use or disclosure of personal data without consent in cases of vital interests of individuals or matters affecting the public, these exceptions do not apply to Venus Beauty’s supposed “Wall of Shame”.

“Publication of such personal data would be justified and permissible if, for example, there was a gunman or dangerous criminal on the run, and a retail shop has possession of camera footage that would lead to his identification and arrest," said Ms Luo, managing director of Luo Ling Ling LLC.

"This would be in the vital interests of individuals’ safety or national interest for security.” 

Ms Luo added that the persons featured on the “Wall of Shame” can demand for their photographs be taken down if they had not given prior consent. And even if the individuals had given their consent, they can withdraw it.

Ms Sharifah said that in any criminal matter, an accused is innocent until proven guilty. 

“It is not up to the shopkeeper to decide that someone is guilty of shoplifting. That is the job of the court of law," she said.

"Before an accused person can be convicted of a crime, due process of the law must take place, that involves investigation by the police, the prosecution pressing charges and the eventual decision by the courts.”