B.C.'s Intimate Images Protection Act Coming Into Force

British Columbia's Intimate Images Protection Act (Act) and Intimate Images Protection Regulation (Regulation) will come into force on January 29, 2024. The Act and Regulation provide a civil remedy for those whose intimate images have been distributed without consent or threatened with distribution. Distributing an intimate image without consent is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code. The Act provides individuals with a cause of action for civil damages and an expedited process to have their intimate images deleted, taken down or de-indexed. The Act affects organizations that host or index third-party content through an online platform, defined as internet intermediaries. Since this encompasses most social media platforms, video hosting platforms, websites and search engines, all internet intermediaries should be aware of the new Act and Regulation.