fbpx

As more and more people are fighting back against exes posting “revenge porn” online, the Courts, the media, and society are taking more notice.

Just this week in the United Kingdom, an online celebrity won a significant case against her ex-boyfriend after he posted sexually explicit videos of her on the internet.

The Government of Canada has taken steps to prevent people from posting intimate photos of their exes online, without their consent, by enacting new provisions in the Criminal Code making it a criminal offence to do so.

However, these provisions do not address compensation for the damages suffered by victims of revenge porn.  The law on suing exes for committing such actions is not clear in a number of Provinces.  However, in Alberta, the Provincial Government recently enacted legislation that specifically deals with revenge porn: The Protecting Victims of Non-consensual Distribution of Intimate Images Act (the Intimate Images Act).      

Under this legislation, individuals who have had their intimate images or videos distributed to others, or posted online, without their consent, have the positive right to sue the person who committed the offending act.  In essence, this legislation has statutorily defined such offending actions as a specific tort under which the offending person can be liable for significant damages.

It remains to be seen whether all the provinces in Canada will follow Alberta’s lead, but given the seriousness with which society and the Courts are taking revenge porn, it is likely only a matter of time.

If you have been a victim of revenge porn, Mincher Koeman LLP has the experience to assist you in not only pursuing your legal rights under the Intimate Images Act, but also in assisting you with having the images and videos delisted from search engines and removed from the internet.  Please give Andrew Koeman or Lynsey Mincher a call at (403) 910-3000, or email them at akoeman@mincherkoeman.com or lmincher@mincherkoeman.com.

A team above all. Above all a team.

Calgary Office

707 7 Ave SW #1300,
Calgary, AB T2P 3H6

Canmore Office

621 10 St #101
Canmore, AB T1W 2A2

Website designed and managed by Umbrella Legal Marketing