Can a regular paper shredder secretly scan pages and send them out?

The claim alone is not evidence. A device that scans and sends pages would need imaging hardware and some way to store or transmit the data. That might be technically possible in a specially designed machine, but it should not be assumed about an ordinary shredder without verifiable evidence, such as credible inspection or documented network activity.

Check the exact model and its manual rather than relying on a broad claim. If it has no scanning parts or network connection, secretly sending page images would be a much bigger claim than “it has a shredder motor.” For highly sensitive papers, a basic standalone shredder is a simple option, and it is sensible to review network access on any connected office device.