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Tag: Intimate Images

Intimate Image Claims Worth “Considerably More” Than $5,000

Written by ERIK MAGRAKEN on . Posted in BC Civil Resolution Tribunal, Intimate Image Protection Claims, Intimate Images Protection Act.

The first precedent has been handed down invoking BC’s new Intimate Images Protection Act.  In short the legislation makes it unlawful to share intimate images of another person without their consent.  Even if you initially obtained the images consensually.  The law is broad in its reach.

The law allows civil claims to be prosecuted in the Civil Resolution Tribunal, Provincial Court, or Supreme Court.  Choosing the CRT is faster, cheaper and easier.  But the CRT has a limit of $5,000 in damages in these types of claims.  In today’s case the CRT found that these cases, once liability is established, are worth ‘considerably more’ than their limit so awarding the $5,000 seems to be a default damage assessment in that venue.

In the recent case (BDS v. MW) the applicant shared semi nude images of a sexualized nature with the respondent.  The respondant shared these with another without the applicant’s consent.  The key facts and findings were as follows where the CRT provided some worthwhile comments on the definition of what constitutes an intimate image along with damage assessments:

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Intimate Images Protection Act Brought Into Force This Week

Written by ERIK MAGRAKEN on . Posted in Intimate Image Protection Claims, Intimate Images Protection Act.

The final steps for BC’s innovative Intimate Images Protection Act (“IIPA”) are now complete and the law is set to fully come into force.

On December 18, 2023 Order in Council 725 was published noting that the IIPA will come into force on January 29, 2024.

 

In short this now means that anybody who has had their intimate images distributed without their consent in British Columbia, even if they have previously given consent and later revoked it, now have a new set of legal remedies.

They can apply to various ‘decision makers’ including the online Civil Resolution Tribunal for a takedown order.  They can further sue for non-pecuniary, aggravated and even punitive damages to those who distribute the images without their consent.  Distributors can include search engines like Google and other powerful social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and X. Those that do so can face serios administrative penalties of up to $100,000 for a failure to comply with a take-down order or de-indexing order under the Act.

As discussed earlier this month the legislation is so broad it even covers deep fakes (like the ones Taylor Swift was targeted with this week).

I discussed this earlier this week on Chek News.  You can click here to read our archived posts and learn more.

If you need legal help with an IIPA claim you can contact us confidentially here.

Targeting “Deep Fakes” Using BC’s Intimate Images Protection Act

Written by ERIK MAGRAKEN on . Posted in Intimate Image Protection Claims, Intimate Images Protection Act.

The BC Government passed the Intimate Images’ Protection Act into law last year.  In short this legislation gives victims of unwanted sexual and nude images posted online powerful tools to have the content removed and the ability to seek damages against those who fail to respect their wishes.  The law will be live as soon as the government passes the regulations and finalizes the updated Civil Resolution Tribunal rules for these claims.

As deepfake technology rapidly spreads many celebrities and others have found themselves victims of fake sexual or nude images online.  The good news is BC’s Intimate Images Protection Act is broad enough to give a remedy in these circumstances.

The legislation covers “visual simultaneous representation of an individual” if the imagery depicts the person engaging in a sexual act, if they are nude or even nearly nude.   The legislation also applies “whether or not the image has been altered in any way”.

Adding the above together the legislation clearly covers deepfakes.

If you are the victim of unwanted deepfake pornography you can take action now.  The law is retroactive to the day it passed first reading last year.  You can demand that not only the people who created the images remove them from the internet but you can also target bigtech such as Google, Facebook and other “internet intermediaries” to respect your wishes.

When it comes to unwanted sexual or nude content online, even fake images that identify you, the BC Intimate Images Protection Act makes one thing clear, its your body, your choice, even online.

CRT Publishes Draft Intimate Image Protection Order Rules

Written by ERIK MAGRAKEN on . Posted in Intimate Images Protection Act.

In March 2023 the BC Government passed the Intimate Images Protective Act.  The regulations under the Act and the way the Civil Resolution Tribunal (“CRT”) will deal with these claims are yet to be finalized but things now appear to be getting closer.

Today the CRT announced draft rules for these claims and requested public feedback.  The below has been published on the CRT’s website:

The Intimate Images Protection Act (IIPA), passed in March 2023, gives the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) jurisdiction to resolve claims about non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

Under IIPA, the CRT can issue protection orders that require an intimate image be deleted, de-indexed, and/or removed from a website or social media platform. If a person or internet platform doesn’t comply with a protection order, the CRT can order an administrative penalty. Administrative penalties are payable to government. The CRT can also award damages of up to $5,000.

The launch date for the CRT accepting these claims will be determined by the BC government. That date has not yet been announced.

To prepare for this change, we’ve created a new set of CRT rules. These rules are called the Intimate Image Protection Order Rules. They will apply to claims for protection orders and administrative penalties.

The newly drafted rules are ready to share with you. We’d like your feedback on them.

A full copy of the DRAFT RULES can be found here.

Intimate Images Protection Update – Big Tech Warned To Be Ready For Big Changes or Face Big Damages

Written by ERIK MAGRAKEN on . Posted in BC Civil Resolution Tribunal, Intimate Image Protection Claims, Intimate Images Protection Act.

I’ve written previously about BC’s new ‘Intimate Images Protection Act’.  In short this new law allows people to get quick binding orders for the removal of nude or sexualized content they don’t want on the internet.  Even if they previously consented to sharing the content they can RETROACTIVELY revoke consent.  Big change.

This week BC’s Attorney General wrote a letter to major tech and social medial companies telling them to be ready.

In the letter it is suggested the Act will go live in a matter of months as soon as regulations are finalized.  From there we can assist anyone who wants to have unwanted intimate content removed from the internet.   In fact once the law is live it is retroactive to when it was first introduced so people can send demand letters for the removal of content under the legislation right now.  If demand letters are not complied with damages could follow.

If an intimate image is ordered removed and anyone (hint big tech) continues to ‘distribute’ the image they are liable for a statutory tort and can be on the hook for damages.  These include compensatory damages and potentially aggravated and even punitive damages.

I’ve obtained a copy of the Attorney General’s letter.  Below it is published in full.  Big tech has now been warned.  They will have no excuse not to be ready to have responsible policies in place to swiftly remove ordered images within their control

Intimate Images Protection Act Now Law

Written by ERIK MAGRAKEN on . Posted in Intimate Image Protection Claims, Intimate Images Protection Act, Removing Naked Images and Vidoes, Removing Nude Images and Videos.

The British Columba Intimate Images Protection Act, which was first introduced earlier this month, has now passed into law.  It passed third reading and received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023.

This law was presented to the public as an anti revenge porn law.  But it does so much more than that.

If you have an intimate image ‘distributed’ by others you can tell them to stop.  Even if you previously consented to the sharing or distribution of the image you can revoke your consent.   Anyone who refuses to abide by these wishes can be ordered to stop distributing the images.  The law also gives victims the right to seek compensatory, aggravated and punitive damages for the unwanted distribution of their intimate images.  It applies not just to actual images but even deep fakes and other damaging nude or sexual images.

MacIsaac & Company is proud to expand our legal services to provide victims of unwanted intimate image distribution assistance in sending demand letters, obtaining judicial or tribunal takedown orders, and litigation for damages.

Your Body.  Your Choice.  Even Online.