Lawyer Denise Nurse appeared on Morning Live to warn WhatsApp users about the pitfalls (Image: BBC)
A lawyer has issued a warning to WhatsApp users in an appearance on
Lawyer Denise Nurse joined up with hosts Kym Marsh and Gethin Jones to discuss the lesser-known issues surrounding WhatsApp group chats that could potentially lead to legal trouble or interference with police investigations.
As Gethin humorously suggested that Kym “must be in about a hundred” group chats due to her reluctance to be the first to leave, Denise acknowledged the benefits of these local street group chats, such as redistributing unwanted items, locating lost property and pets, or alerting neighbours to criminal activity.
However, she warned that this last point could land people in significant trouble if they share video footage like CCTV or Ring doorbell videos.
Denise stated: “We need to get the balance right between our security and someone else’s privacy.”
The biggest problem could be when you’re only trying to help a neighbour in need, Denise warned.
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If there’s been a crime in the area, some people won’t think twice about sharing any potentially useful footage on their street group chats but this can have devastating consequences.
Denise warned: “If there is a criminal investigation you could be interfering. You could be sharing information that the police don’t want out there.”
The lawyer cautioned against the potential risks of misinterpretation when suspicions “could be wrong but yet someone’s identifiable”. Sharing this footage could even pose a threat to your own safety, she said. “Perhaps, it is a criminal… and they’re on your WhatsApp group,” she pointed out
Denise advised that instead of circulating the footage within WhatsApp chats, it should be sent directly to the police.
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She explained: “When you capture footage of someone and they haven’t consented to it and they’re identifiable in it, that will be their personal data. So if you start sharing things, you could be straying on the line.”
Denise clarified that using cameras within one’s property boundaries is generally acceptable, but filming communal areas might breach privacy laws as captured individuals “don’t expect to be captured on your camera,” potentially leading to legal problems.
She highlighted guidelines that align with GDPR and data protection laws for setting up cameras correctly.
Another warning from Denise comes from oversharing on these WhatsApp chats.
For example, imagine a scenario where you post that your window lock is broken and ask for handyman recommendations. This could alert criminals to vulnerabilities in your home and even invalidate your home insurance.
When you come across a bank card or a child’s bus pass on the street, your instinct might be to share it in your group chat. However, doing so could provide potential criminals with the identification they need, or allow fraudsters to capitalise on the lost items.
Expert Denise cautions: “My top tip here on all forms of communication is don’t say anything you wouldn’t be prepared to say in a court of law being used as evidence. If it’s read out in the cold light of day, how’s it going to feel? If you say something abusive, discriminatory, threatening.”
She further pointed out that receiving specific kinds of texts might constitute malicious communication or harassment, depending on the frequency of occurrence. She concluded by mentioning: “You do have recourse in the law if you receive something like that.”