B.C. looks to target ‘revenge porn’ with legislation

VICTORIA – The British Columbia government says it is looking into creating a law that would allow action against so-called revenge porn, the posting of intimate images without a person’s consent.

The publication of the images is already an offence under the Criminal Code, but the government says provincial legislation could help people better protect themselves or ask for recourse.

The government says in a statement that a national hotline reported a 58 per cent increase in the non-consensual sharing of intimate images by the start of 2021 — compared with the nine-month period before April 1 last year.

Grace Lore, the parliamentary secretary for gender equity, says in a statement that revenge porn can be a form of partner violence or used to extort victims, highlighting the importance of having provincial legislation.

Consultations with affected groups and individuals are ongoing until June.

Nova Scotia adopted legislation targeting cyberbullying and the sharing of intimate images in 2018.

Under its legislation, victims and parents can participate in restorative approaches to resolve disputes, get protection orders to stop the activity, request removal of online content, prohibit further contact and ask for compensation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2021.