The British Columbia government is taking steps to enhance protections for individuals whose private images are shared without consent, a harmful act Attorney General Niki Sharma labeled as a type of sexualized violence.
Speaking at a press conference marking the start of the fall legislative session in Victoria, Sharma announced plans to introduce a bill to amend the province’s Intimate Images Protection Act, which was enacted in January 2024.
According to Sharma, the unauthorized sharing of someone’s intimate images constitutes a criminal offense. She emphasized that whether this act is driven by financial extortion, blackmail, or emotional manipulation, it is unequivocally wrong.
The proposed bill empowers the cabinet to increase the maximum compensation that victims can seek from offenders through the Civil Resolution Tribunal. Sharma intends to recommend raising this limit to $75,000, a significant 14-fold increase from the current cap.
“We are expanding avenues for victims to seek the justice they rightfully deserve, ensuring they receive fair compensation for the hardships they have endured,” Sharma stated.
Sharma revealed that the Civil Resolution Tribunal is currently handling 381 cases related to intimate images, with nearly 700 individuals contacting the province’s dedicated support service following the enactment of the legislation.
She highlighted the common feelings of shame and silence experienced by victims, who often choose not to pursue legal recourse due to the societal stigma surrounding intimate image sharing.
Sharma emphasized the need to shift accountability for sexualized violence from victims to the perpetrators, asserting that the proposed amendment aims to enforce consequences for sharing someone’s images without consent.
Addressing the broader issue of sexual extortion, particularly concerning children, Sharma called for enhanced Criminal Code laws to combat online sextortion cases, noting the challenges in prosecuting perpetrators located outside the country.
Furthermore, the government is introducing a new law aimed at preventing and addressing sexual violence on post-secondary campuses during the fall legislative session.
Minister of Post-Secondary Education Jessie Sunner highlighted the proposed changes, which seek to strengthen existing sexual violence policies at public post-secondary institutions since 2017 by addressing gaps in the framework.
Sunner outlined the comprehensive approach of the new proposals, which include more stringent annual reporting mandates and expanding the coverage of sexual violence policies to encompass not just students but also faculty, employees, contractors, volunteers, and board members at educational institutions.
She also emphasized improved support for survivors, including granting institutions the authority to share information about interim measures and case outcomes with individuals affected by sexual violence.
In conjunction with the legislative amendments, Sunner unveiled a new post-secondary sexual violence action plan featuring 12 key initiatives, such as enhancing prevention efforts through training programs and enhancing data collection and reporting mechanisms.