A woman in British Columbia lost her civil case against her ex-partner for sharing explicit images with her employer.
A woman in British Columbia, Canada, filed a complaint against her ex-partner for sharing her explicit images with her employer, but a civil court ruled against her, stating that the ex’s actions were in the “public interest.”
According to the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), the woman—referred to as “MR”—had voluntarily shared nude and sexually explicit photos and videos with her then-partner, identified as “SS,” during their relationship. These images were taken during work hours, on her employer’s property, and in some cases in publicly accessible areas like the front counter.
After the relationship ended, the man sent the images to her employer, claiming he was reporting her for “workplace misconduct.” The woman alleged this was an act of revenge meant to damage her reputation.
Tribunal: Images Not Protected Under Privacy Laws
The tribunal considered British Columbia’s Intimate Images Protection Act, which requires that such images not only depict nudity or sexual activity but also be taken under circumstances where the person had a “reasonable expectation of privacy.”
Tribunal member Megan Stewart ruled that although the images met the first condition, they failed the second. Since the photos were taken in public or semi-public spaces at her workplace, she could not reasonably expect privacy.
Court: Employer Had Right to Know
Stewart also ruled that even if the images were considered private, sending them to the employer was still defensible. “I find it was in the public interest for the respondent to share the applicant’s images with her employer,” she wrote in her decision.
The court noted the photos were taken during work hours and in areas open to others. As a result, the employer had a valid reason to be informed.
No Compensation Awarded
The woman sought $5,000 in damages, but the tribunal dismissed the case entirely, awarding her no compensation.
