The customer claims screen-time logs and CCTV footage show WhatsApp and media files being accessed without consent.
He has filed complaints with the consumer helpline and police, while Samsung has yet to issue an official response.
Users are being urged to use features like Repair Mode and take data precautions before submitting phones for servicing.
A video is making the rounds on the internet, putting light on the alleged data and privacy violations at the Samsung-authorised service centre in India. The viral video includes CCTV footage of the technician using the phone that came for repair and accessing personal data, raising some fresh questions about how customer devices are handled during repairs.
SurveyThe person who posted the video claimed that he had submitted his smartphone for servicing and later noticed irregular activity in the device’s screen-time records. According to his account, the phone showed close to 10 minutes of usage while it was at the service centre, including nearly two minutes of activity on WhatsApp. He alleged that personal applications were accessed without his permission.
🚨 Samsung service centre allegedly caught breaching customer data and privacy
— Apple Design (@TheAppleDesign) January 11, 2026
The person who posted the video claimed he visited a Samsung service centre in India to get his phone repaired but later noticed suspicious activity in screen time. According to him, personal apps… pic.twitter.com/8Q4k5f5Dl3
The situation reportedly escalated when he confronted the service centre staff. The complainant said the manager initially responded cooperatively, but claimed that the owner later made indirect threats. He also alleged that while the service centre had agreed to share complete CCTV footage covering the repair duration, only a brief two-minute clip was eventually provided.
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The CCTV video, which the individual has shared online, allegedly shows a technician opening WhatsApp, browsing through media files and typing on the handset. The customer has described this footage as clear evidence of unauthorised access to personal data and a breach of trust.
Even after the incident, the individual said he has filed a complaint with the national consumer helpline and the police, seeking an investigation into the matter. The claims have since triggered widespread discussion online, with users expressing concern over data security at authorised repair facilities.
We have also reached out to Samsung for the official response addressing the specific allegations. The incident has sparked a fresh debate on social media platforms, including X and Reddit, with people asking for stricter repair protocols, greater transparency and stronger safeguards to ensure that customer data remains protected.
What you can do to keep your phone’s data safe while repairing
Many phone makers, including Samsung, offer Repair Mode that can be enabled. For the unversed, the feature creates a secure, temporary environment on the device for technicians to fix hardware issues without accessing the private data.
How to enable
You activate it in Settings (System > Repair Mode), requiring your PIN, and exit it the same way after getting your device back.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
