BC Intimate Images Protection Act First Case Shows the Law’s Limits

Lina Zhang
1 day ago
3 min read

Comic book style illustration showing a man discovering that his private photo has been shared online, symbolizing a privacy breach under the BC Intimate Images Protection Act. The image captures the emotional impact and digital consequences of intimate image misuse in British Columbia.

May 1, 2024 — British Columbia: A BC man has become the first person to win a case under the province’s Intimate Images Protection Act after private photos he shared in confidence were circulated online without consent.

The man, identified as B.D.S., filed his complaint through the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) against another man, M.W., who shared semi-nude images from a private chat on X (formerly Twitter).

What Happened

The men never met in person but exchanged messages and photos online in 2021. During those conversations, B.D.S. sent two private images: one showing him shirtless in underwear, the other exposing part of his buttocks.

M.W. forwarded the photos to others without permission. The CRT ruled that both qualified as “intimate images” under the BC Intimate Images Protection Act because they were created in a sexual context and shared with an expectation of privacy.

The Tribunal’s Decision Under the BC Intimate Images Protection Act

Tribunal member Kate Campbell ordered M.W. to pay $5,000 in damages, the maximum allowed under the CRT. In her ruling, she noted that cases like this are “worth considerably more,” highlighting the limits of the tribunal’s authority.

The order required M.W. and anyone else who had received the photos to delete them and make every reasonable effort to remove them from the internet, including having them de-indexed from search engines.

It also directed internet intermediaries, such as social platforms or hosting sites, to permanently remove or destroy all copies.

Read: BC Intimate Images Protection Act Fine Could Rise to $75,000

Why This Case Matters

This case created the first legal precedent under the BC Intimate Images Protection Act, confirming that even consensually shared images can later be considered “intimate” if they are distributed without permission.

But it also exposed a major weakness in the system. The $5,000 cap barely covers therapy, income loss, or the long-term emotional harm caused by digital exploitation. For many survivors, justice stops at a number that feels symbolic rather than restorative.

The BC government has since proposed increasing that limit to $75,000 and strengthening privacy rules so victims can pursue justice without fear of public exposure.

How the Case Could Shape Future Claims

Legal experts say this decision sets the stage for stronger protections and higher penalties once amendments take effect. It also signals to victims that action is possible without going through the police or traditional court systems.

If the compensation ceiling rises, survivors may finally see damages that reflect the true cost of digital abuse—lost jobs, damaged reputations, and emotional trauma that can last for years.