BC's Civil Resolution Tribunal recently confirmed the full scope of remedies available when intimate images are shared without consent — including damages up to $75,000 and enforcement through the courts. Here is what that decision means.
<h2>BC Was First — and the Law Has Grown Stronger</h2>
<p>British Columbia was the first province in Canada to create an online tribunal for civil disputes — the <a href="https://civilresolutionbc.ca/crt-process/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT)</a>. In 2024, the BC government added a new category to its jurisdiction: complaints about the non-consensual posting of illicit intimate images, under the <em>Intimate Images Protection Act</em> (IIPA).</p>
<p>A significant CRT decision issued on 25 September 2026 confirms exactly what remedies are available — and sends a clear message about how seriously BC treats this issue.</p>
<h2>What the September 2026 Decision Confirmed</h2>
<p>The case involved a woman who posted intimate images of a male complainant to social media without his consent. She was ordered to pay <strong>$35,000 in damages</strong> — the maximum limit at the time the claim was filed — after the CRT found her conduct to be persistent and without any apology or acknowledgment of wrongdoing.</p>
<p>The decision confirms several important points that apply to all future claims:</p>
<ul>
<li>The CRT's damages limit has since increased to <strong>up to $75,000</strong>, with three types of possible awards: compensatory, aggravated, or punitive damages.</li>
<li>The act of <strong>sharing or threatening to share</strong> an intimate image without consent is deemed to be wrong — without any requirement to prove harm. Evidence is required only to justify the amount of damages claimed.</li>
<li>Evidence at the CRT is <strong>not limited to what would be admissible in court</strong>, making it more accessible than traditional litigation.</li>
<li>An illicit image claim is treated similarly to nuisance law — the limitation period <strong>restarts every day</strong> the image remains accessible, though damages are capped at the two years before the CRT claim was filed.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why Harm Does Not Need to Be Proven</h2>
<p>The decision quotes the legal principle directly:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>"… inherent harm arising from … sharing or threatening to share an intimate image without consent offends an applicant's dignity, privacy, and autonomy. Evidence of harm is not required, because it is well known that sharing a person's intimate images is harmful. Further, IIPA section 3(1) says that non-consensual sharing of intimate images is unlawful and is actionable without proof of damage."</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This is a meaningful protection. Many complainants hesitate to come forward because they fear they cannot document the psychological or financial damage they have suffered. BC law says that the act itself is the harm — you do not have to quantify your suffering to be entitled to a remedy.</p>
<h2>Who the Law Protects</h2>
<p>The IIPA protects <strong>anyone</strong> whose intimate images have been shared or threatened to be shared without consent — regardless of gender, age (subject to other laws for minors), or the nature of the original relationship. The September 2026 case involved a male complainant, which is a reminder that this law applies equally to all.</p>
<p>The law covers:</p>
<ul>
<li>Images shared on social media, messaging apps, or websites</li>
<li>Threats to share images, even if the images have not yet been posted</li>
<li>Images originally taken with consent but shared without it</li>
<li>Images taken without the subject's knowledge</li>
</ul>
<h2>How CRT Orders Are Enforced</h2>
<p>A CRT order is legally binding. If the person ordered to pay refuses:</p>
<ul>
<li>Orders <strong>up to $35,000</strong> are enforceable through the BC Provincial Court</li>
<li>Orders <strong>above $35,000</strong> are enforceable through the BC Supreme Court</li>
</ul>
<p>Standard court enforcement tools — including wage garnishment and asset seizure — are available once the order is registered with the appropriate court.</p>
<h2>What to Do If This Has Happened to You</h2>
<p>If intimate images of you have been shared or threatened to be shared without your consent, these are practical first steps:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Document everything.</strong> Take screenshots of the images, where they appear, and any messages from the person responsible. Date and time stamps matter.</li>
<li><strong>Report to the platform.</strong> Most social media platforms have a reporting process for non-consensual intimate images and will act.</li>
<li><strong>Get legal advice.</strong> A lawyer can help you understand whether a CRT claim, a criminal complaint under the <em>Criminal Code</em>, or both are appropriate in your situation.</li>
<li><strong>Consider your safety.</strong> If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If there are threats involved, the police can act on the criminal side while a civil CRT claim proceeds separately.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Criminal Law Runs Alongside the Civil Remedy</h2>
<p>A CRT claim under the IIPA is a <em>civil</em> remedy — separate from the criminal law. Under the <em>Criminal Code of Canada</em>, publishing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence carrying up to five years in prison. You can pursue both a CRT civil claim and a criminal complaint at the same time; they are independent processes and one does not affect the other.</p>
<h2>We Can Help</h2>
<p>If you or someone you know has been affected by the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, Sea to Sky Law can advise on your options — from the CRT process to related family law or restraining order proceedings. Contact us at <a href="mailto:WeCanHelp@seatoskylaw.ca">WeCanHelp@seatoskylaw.ca</a>.</p>
<p><em>This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different; please seek legal advice specific to your circumstances.</em></p>
The Civil Resolution Tribunal can now award up to $75,000 in damages for non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Three categories of damages are available: compensatory, aggravated, and punitive.
No. The BC Intimate Images Protection Act says that sharing or threatening to share an intimate image without consent is unlawful and actionable without proof of damage. Harm is deemed to exist from the moment the image is online, because the law recognizes that sharing intimate images is inherently harmful to a person's dignity, privacy, and autonomy.
Because an illicit intimate image claim is treated similarly to nuisance law, the limitation period restarts each day there is continuing evidence of damage — meaning every day the image remains accessible online. However, damages are limited to the two-year period before the CRT claim was filed.
A CRT order for up to $35,000 can be enforced through the BC Provincial Court. For amounts above $35,000, the order is enforceable through the BC Supreme Court. The CRT itself does not enforce payment — you take the order to the appropriate court and use standard enforcement tools such as garnishment or seizure of assets.