New act to protect victims of non-consensual image sharing in B.C.

B.C.’s Premier says the recent sharing of an explicit deep fake image of Taylor Swift serves as a call to action to governments and tech companies.

David Eby says policy makers need to look at carefully at laws and safeguards already in place in relation to image sharing, and strengthen them where needed.

“If this can happen to Taylor Swift, this can happen to any Canadian or any British Columbian,” he said. “Our work on this started a while ago, but this incident really raises the profile of this for many people.”

Beginning Monday, people in B.C. whose images are posted without their consent can now apply to the Civil Resolution Tribunal to have it taken down and seek monetary compensation.

The new Intimate Images Protection Act aims to provide more legal options for victims whose images are being circulated, and means perpetrators can be ordered to pay fines if the image is not taken down. Emotional support, information and resources are also being provided to victims as part of the act.

“Our new law and the system we’ve put in place with the expedited take-down orders that are distributed directly to the tech companies like Google and Facebook, and others, to get those images taken down, will address those issues,” Eby said.

Over the weekend, as the fake image of Swift was shared faster than it could be taken down on social media, the ability to search the pop star’s name was suspended.

B.C.’s new legislation encompasses intimate images, near-nude images, videos, livestreams and digitally altered images, or deep fakes. Anyone 14 or older can apply for a protection order without an adult’s consent.