B.C. taking steps to protect people from having intimate images shared online without consent
The province has passed legislation to make it easier for victims to get sexual images of themselves posted online without their consent -- taken down, as experts question whether it goes far enough to address the next frontier -- of artificial intelligence.
David Fraser is one of Canada's leading internet and privacy lawyers. He says most victims just want the images in question taken down. The B.C. law he says, is a good step, but it's unclear if the definition of an image will include what some call, deep fakes.
"It's not just the old fashioned Photoshop. Its videos can be completely recreated changing somebody's face, changing body characteristics, and things like that. And the ultimate impact can be just as harmful on the victims of that sort of thing," Fraser told CTV.
To protect victims -- the B.C. government has passed legislation that gives them a faster and easier way to get sexual images posted online -- taken down quickly. This fall, victims will have access to a website to make that request through the civil resolution tribunal.
Ryan Black, a partner with the firm DLA Piper (Canada) said he thought the intent of the law was clear and that may help when dealing with cases involving AI.
"I think courts are going to be not very friendly towards people who using artificial intelligence, manipulate images to make them appear explicit.," Black explained. "We're probably going to get to the same place, but I think that it should have been part of this act very clearly."
The attorney general sent a letter to big media companies about the legislation and how court orders will demand they take the images down. Niki Sharma told reporters she had already met with Google and hoped to meet with other tech giants as well.
"The letter's very clear and they're all on notice that posting intimate images without consent is sexualized violence and won't be tolerated," added Sharma.
Experts say most large companies don't want negative press, so they will remove them. But those who make a business of sharing these kinds of images may not.
"A Canadian court order of this type simply doesn't have any force for effect outside of Canada," explained Fraser.
Asked about jurisdictional issues, Sharma insisted her team felt a court order or administrative penalties administered for non-compliance were enforceable.
Sharing intimate images of someone without their consent is a crime in Canada. Going through that court process can be traumatizing and cumbersome, which is why many provinces are coming up with their own rules.
"I think that a lot of this stuff happens at the heat of the moment and kind of maybe sometimes comes from abusive relationships," added Black. The lawyer added he felt B.C.'s new law was a good way to educate people about the issue and hopefully deter them.
Anti-violence groups point out there's often a lot of shame and victim-blaming for what increasingly is being recognized for what it is -- not so-called "revenge porn" -- but a harmful crime.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for life of prime minister who was shot
The Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for the life of the country's prime minister, who was shot multiple times after a political event Wednesday afternoon.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.