In the age of instant sharing and social media, a split-second decision can have serious legal consequences. Example? Sharing an explicit photo of your ex without their consent. What might seem like a joke or just feel good in the moment, is, in fact, a criminal offence.
Section 162.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it illegal to knowingly publish, distribute, transmit, sell, make available or advertise an intimate image of a person without their consent. An “intimate image” includes photos or videos in which the person is nude, partially nude, or engaged in sexual activity, and had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Consent must be explicit. Just because someone shared an image with you during a relationship doesn’t mean you can share it later. If you’re charged and convicted, you could face a criminal record and even jail time.
The takeaway is simple: if you have intimate images of someone – hit “delete”.
If you’re facing criminal charges or have questions about your rights- reach out to [email protected] to connect with our expert criminal law team.
Disclaimer: the above blog post does not constitute legal advice and is for information purposes only. We strongly recommend obtaining legal advice with respect to any legal issues.
