The British Columbia government is enhancing laws safeguarding individuals whose private images are shared without consent, a violation described by Attorney General Niki Sharma as a form of sexualized violence. During a news briefing in Victoria as the autumn legislative session commenced on Monday, Sharma announced plans to introduce a bill to modify the Intimate Images Protection Act, which became effective in January 2024.
Sharma emphasized that sharing someone’s intimate images without consent is a criminal offense, regardless of the motive behind it, such as extortion, blackmail, or emotional abuse. The proposed bill empowers the cabinet to increase the maximum compensation victims can claim from offenders through the Civil Resolution Tribunal, with Sharma proposing a raise to $75,000, a substantial increase from the current limit.
“We are providing additional avenues for victims to attain the justice they rightfully deserve and ensuring they receive adequate compensation for the suffering they have endured,” stated Sharma. She highlighted that the Civil Resolution Tribunal has dealt with 381 cases related to intimate images, with nearly 700 individuals seeking assistance from the province’s dedicated support service since the legislation’s enactment.
Sharma expressed concern that victims often feel ashamed and tend to suffer silently, refraining from legal action due to the stigma associated with creating intimate images. She emphasized the need to shift blame from victims to perpetrators of sexualized violence.
The proposed amendment aims to convey the message that sharing someone’s images carries consequences, and those found culpable will face punishment, Sharma affirmed. Additionally, Sharma emphasized the necessity for enhanced Criminal Code laws in Canada concerning the sexual extortion of children, particularly in online sextortion cases where perpetrators are frequently located abroad, complicating prosecution efforts.
Furthermore, the government is introducing a new legislation to address and prevent sexual violence on post-secondary campuses during the legislative session. Public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia have been mandated to have sexual violence policies since 2017, and Minister of Post-Secondary Education Jessie Sunner noted that the proposed changes seek to address existing gaps in the framework.
The upcoming adjustments include more comprehensive annual reporting obligations and an expansion of the scope of sexual violence policies to encompass not only students but also faculty, staff, contractors, volunteers, and board members at educational institutions. Sunner highlighted that the revisions would enhance support for survivors by empowering institutions to share information regarding interim measures and case outcomes with them.
In conjunction with the legislation, B.C. is rolling out a new post-secondary sexual violence action plan, committing to 12 initiatives aimed at bolstering prevention through training and enhancing data collection and reporting practices.