Nova Scotia’s Intimate Images and Cyber-Protection Act

In Nova Scotia, the provincial government has proclaimed the Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act. It is intended to help protect victims of cyber-bullying and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

The Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act received royal assent on October 26, 2017. Read the text here:

https://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/63rd_1st/3rd_read/b027.htm

 

The new act replaces the province’s Cyber-safety Act. On December 11, 2015, a judge in Halifax struck it down because it infringed on Charter guarantees of free expression.

 

REPORTAGE

The Canadian Press reports:

https://lfpress.com/news/national/redrafted-nova-scotia-anti-cyberbullying-law-comes-into-force/wcm/5665234e-a8ab-47d9-8fc0-f0c5de9da7d7

In Halifax Today, Katie Hartai reports:

https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/nova-scotia-proclaims-legislation-addressing-cyberbullying-and-the-sharing-of-intimate-images-976099

Stuart Peddle of The ChronicleHerald reports criticism of the law:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1583260-new-act-makes-filing-cyber-safety-complaint-too-costly-complicated-privacy-lawyer

In Canada, cyber-bullying is just as common as it was years ago, despite more awareness of the issue, an Ipsos poll indicates.

Maham Abedi of Global News reports:

https://globalnews.ca/news/4299734/cyberbullying-cases-awareness-canada-poll/

 

COMMENTARY

The ChronicleHerald editorializes:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/editorials/1582967-editorial-cyberbullying-law-better-but-not-perfect