Get help after someone shares or threatens to share an intimate image of you

In Canada, it’s a crime for someone to show another person an intimate image of you knowing that you haven’t consented.

This includes the image being:

• shared;
• published; 
• sold; 
• advertised; or 
• otherwise made available. 

It’s also a crime to threaten to do any of the above.

If this has happened to you, it’s not your fault. There are many supports available to help you. You don’t have to report the crime to get help.

Contact Victim Services to:

• access crisis support;
• learn about your options and rights; and
• access other resources.

Intimate image

An intimate image is a picture or video where:

• you’re naked;
• you’re clearly engaged in a sexual activity; or
• you can see your:
  • genitals;
  • butt; or
  • 1 or both breasts.

Consent

Consent means you’ve agreed through: 

• words; or
• body language.

You cannot give consent if you’re:

• asleep;
• unconscious; 
• under the age of consent; 
• drunk, on drugs, or fearful to the point of not being able to consent; or
• otherwise unable to give consent.

You can give consent to 1 act and not another.

Examples of sharing an intimate image without consent

Examples of non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

• Your partner takes a screenshot of a nude picture you sent them and sends it to other people without asking you.
• An ex-partner posts a video of you engaged in an explicit sexual activity on social media, like Instagram or Snapchat.
• Someone shows their friend intimate images of you on their computer without your permission.

If you receive an intimate image shared without consent

If you receive or are shown an intimate image of someone else, where the person or people in the photo or video haven’t consented, you can talk to: 

• Victim Services;
• RCMP; or
• both.

Cyberflashing

Cyberflashing is when someone sends a picture of their own genitals to another person. This is different from the non-consensual disclosure of intimate images.

At this time in Canada, cyberflashing is not a crime itself unless the person receiving the image is under the age of consent. Sometimes, cyberflashing can be part of another crime like harassment.

You can contact Victim Services for support if you’ve experienced this.

What to do with consensual intimate images

While you can have intimate images of someone else with their consent, it’s good to:

• keep them in a safe place;
• never show them to other people;
• never share them without clear permission;
• delete them if the person asks you to; and
• delete images or videos of an ex-partner even if they don’t ask you to.

Get help

You can contact Victims Services if:

• someone shared or threatened to share an intimate image of you;
• you’re worried an intimate image may be shared;
• you’ve experienced cyberflashing; or
• you want information about your options and support available.