BC Intimate Images Protection Act Case Highlights a Dangerous New Tactic

Lina Zhang
2 days ago
2 min read

February 2024, British Columbia.

A BC woman has won a case under the Intimate Images Protection Act after a man secretly stole her private photos and threatened to post them online.

The case, J.T. v. Sowinski, is one of several testing the province’s new digital privacy law and reveals how easily intimate images can be weaponized when trust is misplaced.

What Happened

According to tribunal documents, J.T. met the man through friends. When she lent him her phone to play music, he secretly accessed her iCloud and sent multiple intimate images of her to himself. They were photos that included full and partial nudity.

When J.T. confronted him, he apologized but later texted her a threat: if she told anyone he had “stolen” her pictures, he would “post your pictures all over social media.”

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

The Civil Resolution Tribunal found the man’s actions “reprehensible and disgusting,” ruling that he had “flagrantly ignored the applicant’s right to privacy and autonomy.”

Tribunal member Kate Campbell ordered him to pay $5,000, the maximum compensation allowed by the CRT, but noted that the harm clearly justified a higher amount if the law permitted it.

In her decision, Campbell said the man’s threats added “egregious emotional distress” and would likely have resulted in punitive damages in provincial or supreme court.

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

Why This Case Matters

This case highlights a growing issue: stolen or “sextorted” images are becoming one of the most common forms of digital sexual violence in BC.

The BC Intimate Images Protection Act was designed to help victims take swift, private action without going to court. But with emotional trauma often outweighing the small financial penalty, advocates argue the law still needs more bite.

If proposed amendments raising the damage cap to $75,000 are approved, future cases like J.T.’s could see far stronger consequences for offenders.

How Survivors Can Protect Themselves

Experts recommend keeping sensitive content secured with strong passwords and two-factor authentication. If a private image is stolen, victims can act immediately under the BC Intimate Images Protection Act by applying online for a takedown and compensation order.

Read: BC’s Intimate Images Protection Act Explained Simply