How Smartphones and Apps Are Eroding Workplace Privacy: The Access Bank Scandal as a Wake-Up Call

Once upon a time, your work life and personal life were distinct. You could clock out and leave your privacy intact. But today, that boundary is eroding, and technology is at the heart of the issue.

The shocking incident at Access Bank, where an employee allegedly recorded over 400 secret videos of naked colleagues, reportedly with the intent to sell them on platforms like OnlyFans and Telegram, is far from a case of a rogue employee. It's a red flag for every company navigating the digital era.

Here’s the cold, hard truth: When smartphones double as covert surveillance tools and social media platforms reward extreme content, no workplace is immune to the risks unless strict safeguards are put in place.

It's easy to blame one individual, but the real story is far more complex and far more unsettling: Workplace privacy protections have failed to keep up with the digital age’s unique threats.

In many African companies, the following gaps exist:

Employees carry smartphones with high-resolution cameras everywhere, offices lack clear protocols on device usage in sensitive spaces, and victims of privacy violations have no clear reporting avenues or legal protection.

Combine these vulnerabilities with platforms like Telegram, which offers encrypted group chats, and the simplicity of uploading anonymous content to sites like OnlyFans, and it's clear: we have a ticking time bomb on our hands.

This isn't speculation; it's happening now.

Why Companies Must Act Now

Privacy can no longer be an afterthought for companies that want to thrive in a digital-first world. To protect their employees and their brand, they need to prioritise. Stronger internal policies around digital surveillance and secure zones, where no phones are allowed, e.g., restrooms, locker rooms, and wellness centres.

Employee training on digital rights and risks

Swift and transparent actions in the event of incidents, not just damage control. Because the stakes are higher than just protecting the company's image, it’s about safeguarding employees' dignity, trust, and futures.

A single leaked video can destroy someone's career before it even begins. A viral clip can undo years of reputation-building. If companies think the cost of stronger privacy measures is steep, they haven’t considered the price of public lawsuits, mass resignations, or becoming known as unsafe workplaces.

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher

The Access Bank scandal must not be seen as a rare horror story. It should serve as a stark warning, a symptom of a broken system and a call for immediate change.

In an era of hidden cameras, encrypted messaging apps, and platform-driven monetisation, privacy, dignity, and identity are vulnerable in ways that many don’t even realise.

If workplaces fail to evolve, workplace privacy won't just be at risk; it could be gone for good.