is it illegal for phone store employees to take images of a customer's account and share them with other employees?

Question

I work for a cellular provider in one of their retail stores. I've been asked to take screenshots of every customer's account/bill that comes into the store and share them in the store's group chat, that other non-management employees have access to, in order for my district manager to try and see what services we can try and convince them to add on. I'm not sure I feel comfortable sharing other people's information in a group chat like that, and just want to make sure I'm not breaking any laws by complying.

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

This practice likely violates several federal and state privacy laws, including the Telecommunications Privacy Act and various data protection regulations. Taking screenshots of customer accounts without explicit consent and sharing them in a group chat could expose sensitive personal and financial information to unauthorized individuals. 
 
Your district manager's request, while potentially well-intentioned from a sales perspective, puts both you and your company at legal risk. Sharing customer data should only occur through approved, secure channels with proper documentation and consent. Many cellular providers have strict internal policies about customer data protection, and violating these could result in termination or legal consequences. 
 
You should raise these concerns with your HR department or compliance team, as they can provide guidance on proper protocols for identifying sales opportunities while protecting customer privacy. If you feel uncomfortable doing this directly, many companies have anonymous ethics hotlines where you can report potential privacy violations. Trust your instincts - protecting customer privacy is not just legally required, it's essential for maintaining trust in your business.

Q: is it illegal for phone store employees to take images of a customer's account and share them with other employees?