The province of B.C. has introduced legislation to better protect people from the effects of having their intimate images shared without their consent.

The legislation, the intimate images protection act, also improves access to justice for survivors of sexualized violence.

“Having your intimate images shared without your permission is a betrayal that can have devastating impacts,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General.

“Victims are often too ashamed to come forward and those who do are met with limited, complex, and expensive legal options. We are building a path to justice for people to regain control of their private images and hold perpetrators to account.”

Incidents of sharing intimate images without consent are under-reported due to stigma, embarrassment, and a prevailing presumption that there's no meaningful avenue for justice.

However, research indicates the numbers are increasing.

If passed, the legislation will create a new, fast-track process for getting a legal decision that an intimate image was recorded or distributed without consent and will also offer a clearer, legal avenue for lawsuits to seek monetary damages for harms suffered.

To support the legislation, the Civil Resolution Tribunal is working to expand its online portal to help people define their legal issues, provide information on their rights, access immediate self-help tools to begin remedial action and connect to community and mental-health supports.

To view the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.