Saskatchewan’s New Revenge Porn Law

By Alan Kilpatrick

Saskatchewan’s Privacy Act, RSS 1987, c P-24 was recently amended to introduce new avenues for victims of revenge porn to seek damages and justice.  Revenge porn includes the non-consensual distribution and sharing of intimate photographs, films, or videos.

Justice Minister Don Morgan explained that The Privacy Amendment Act, SS 2018, c 28, which came into force on September 15, 2018, “provides victims with a clear path for pursuing legal action against those who have victimized them by sharing their intimate images without consent.”

The new law enables a victim to directly sue the image’s distributor.  The law also creates a reverse onus and places a burden on the distributor to prove they had consent to share the intimate image.  Victims can now pursue an action in either Small Claims Court or the Court of Queen’s Bench.  For damages under $30,000, a victim can pursue a simpler and quicker action in Small Claims Court.

Consult the sources below to learn more.

Sources

Fraser, D.C. (2018, September 17). Saskatchewan’s revenge porn law is now in effect, making it easier for victims to take legal action.  Retrieved from https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/saskatchewans-revenge-porn-law-is-now-in-effect-making-it-easier-for-victims-to-take-legal-action

Government of Saskatchewan. (2018, September 17). Legislation To Support Victims Of “Revenge Porn” Takes Effect.  Retrieved from https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2018/september/17/privacy-act

Green, G.A. (2018, September 18).  Recent Saskatchewan Law Regarding Sharing, Posting, or Disseminating Intimate Images.  Retrieved from http://www.mckercher.ca/blog/recent-saskatchewan-law-regarding-sharing-posting-or-disseminating-intimate-images