Journalist Edward Lawrence was beaten and kicked during the arrest, according to the BBC.
Images on social media show him being dragged to the ground in handcuffs.
In another video, he is heard shouting: "Call the consulate now".
Lawrence was held for several hours before being released, according to the British public service company.
- The BBC is extremely concerned about the treatment of our journalist Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed while reporting on the protests in Shanghai, says a spokesperson from the BBC.
The Chinese authorities have not provided any credible explanation or apology for the arrest, according to the spokesperson.
Protests against the tough covid rules are seen in more and more places in China.
At the same time, criticism is also being raised against the Communist Party and protesters are demanding that leader Xi Jinping resign.
Larger demonstrations in the open street are otherwise very unusual in the harsh dictatorship of China.
But according to Börje Ljunggren, former Swedish ambassador in Beijing, it is something that sooner or later had to happen, because of how much the "zero covid" line affects people's mobility.
- It is clear that it boils over.
It is not at all surprising.
It is rather surprising that people put up with so much of this, he says.