Women’s Safety & Legal News

Stay Safe Vancouver reports on how new laws, court rulings, and public policies impact women’s safety in everyday life. From privacy and workplace protection to online harassment and self-defense legislation, discover real stories and updates shaping women’s rights and security across BC and Canada.

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What To Do If Your Intimate Images Are Shared Online in BC

It’s one of the worst things that can happen. You open your phone and find a private photo of yourself online. Maybe it was something you shared in confidence, or something taken without you even knowing. Either way, your privacy has been violated and you need to act fast. Knowing what to do if your intimate images are shared online in BC is clear. The BC Intimate Images Protection Act gives you legal tools to have the images removed and to hold whoever posted them accountab

A woman on her phone looking at an explicit image

BC’s Intimate Images Protection Act Explained Simply

It’s Every Woman’s Worst Nightmare You’re scrolling one night when a message pops up from a friend. It’s a link to a porn site. You click, and your stomach drops. A private photo of you is there. Maybe an ex took it without you knowing, or it was shared with someone you trusted a long time ago. But now it’s public. You panic, unsure what to do or who to call. The website won’t take it down, and the thought of going to the police feels overwhelming. That’s where BC’s Intimate

Vancouver Hotel Safety Tips: 10 Ways to Stay Safe When You Travel

While Vancouver is mostly known as a safe city, here's 9 Hotel Safety Tips For Vancouver Travelers

Women's Safety & Legal Quiz

Q: What are my self-defense rights in Canada?

A: Canadian law allows you to defend yourself if you believe you’re being attacked, but the force used must be reasonable. Section 34 of the Criminal Code explains when self-defense is legally justified. Always check local rules before carrying any protective tools. Read more.

Q: Is it legal to carry pepper spray or other defense tools in Canada

A: Pepper spray is prohibited for use against people under the Criminal Code, though bear spray and dog spray are legal if used only for animal protection. Check provincial and municipal regulations before carrying any deterrent. Read more.

Q: How much force is “reasonable” in self-defense under Canadian law

A: “Reasonable force” depends on the situation such as the threat, the level of danger, and how a court might view your response afterward. Using too much force can turn a victim into a defendant. Read more.

Q: What should I do if police call me in for questioning in Canada?

A: Many people think cooperating fully will make them look innocent, but that can backfire fast. During a police interrogation, every word you say can be used against you later, even if you’ve done nothing wrong. Under the Charter, you have the right to remain silent and to speak to a lawyer before answering any questions. Read more.

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How to Get Revenge Porn Taken Down in BC (2025)

How to Get Revenge Porn Taken Down in BC It happens faster than you can react. A private photo you once trusted someone with appears online — shared, saved, or posted on a stranger’s feed. For years, getting it removed felt impossible. But now BC has changed the rules. A new system connects victims directly with social media companies through the Intimate Images Protection Service, making it faster and easier to get revenge porn taken down in BC and regain your privacy. What’

Can You Sue for Revenge Porn in BC?

Can You Sue for Revenge Porn in BC? It starts with a notification you don’t expect. Your phone lights up, and someone sends you a screenshot of an intimate photo you thought was private. Within seconds, fear sets in. Who shared it? How far has it gone? This moment has become all too common in British Columbia. But a new law now gives victims real legal power to fight back, remove the images, and even sue those responsible. When Private Images Are Shared Without Consent Reveng

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

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

BC Intimate Images Revenge Porn Facebook Case Ends in $5,000 Fine

November 26, 2024, British Columbia. A BC man has been ordered to pay $5,000 in damages after posting his ex-girlfriend’s private photos on Facebook without her consent. The ruling is one of the first under the BC Intimate Images Protection Act, showing how social media revenge can now carry real legal and financial consequences. What Happened In The BC Intimate Images Revenge Porn Facebook Case According to a Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) decision, Miguel Luis Cogtong uplo

BC Intimate Images Protection Act May Raise Fine To $75,000

Imagine finding out that a private photo you once shared, or didn’t even know was taken, has ended up online. You want it gone, but every step feels impossible. Websites ignore you. Police tell you to file a report. The person who posted it keeps going on with their life. That’s the painful reality many women in BC face. The BC Intimate Images Protection Act update aims to change that by giving survivors stronger tools, higher compensation, and better privacy protection than

BC Intimate Images Protection Act Case Highlights a Dangerous New Tactic

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,

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