Close X
Sunday, September 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Six Male Teens Charged With Sharing Intimate Photos Of 20 Girls Without Consent In Nova Scotia

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Jul, 2016 12:04 PM
  • Six Male Teens Charged With Sharing Intimate Photos Of 20 Girls Without Consent In Nova Scotia
BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — Six male high school students in southwestern Nova Scotia are facing charges following an investigation into complaints that intimate images of at least 20 young female students were shared online without their consent.
 
Bridgewater Police chief John Collyer said Friday the case marks one of the first in Canada that involves federal anti-cyberbullying legislation introduced in late 2013 after the high-profile death of Nova Scotia teen Rehtaeh Parsons. The bill became law in March 2015.
 
The 17-year-old attempted suicide and was taken off life support after a digital photo of what her family says was a sexual assault was circulated among students at her school in Cole Harbour, N.S.
 
"We've been trying to get the word out, but youth live in the moment and they sometimes forget that once (an image) is out there, electronically, it's out there forever," the police chief said.
 
"It's a tough discussion, but it's one that needs to be held."
 
 
Collyer said the six accused — all students at Bridgewater High School — were charged with distributing intimate images without consent and possession and distribution of child pornography following a year-long investigation.
 
"This activity was not necessarily taking place at the school," he said. "This was happening outside school hours."
 
Four of the accused are 15 years old, and the other two are now 18. All were under 18 at the time of the alleged offences, which means their identities are protected from publication.
 
The majority of the potential victims are also students at the school, Collyer said.
 
With the case before the courts, the police chief said he couldn't speculate on what motivated the alleged sharing of the images, though he said police do not believe any money was involved.
 
"It's a fairly complex issue," he said. "There's a lot of different things taking place here ... I think it's fair to say that in some cases pressure was brought to bear."
 
 
After complaints came in from school officials, investigators seized a number of electronic devices —mainly cellphones — and handed them to the RCMP Technological Crime Unit for analysis.
 
"At that point, we thought we had a small number of potential victims," Collyer said.
 
However, the Mounties found more photos, and a search warrant was drafted to obtain information from Dropbox, a U.S.-based file-sharing service, he said.
 
Using an international treaty, Canadian officials obtained the files through the FBI, but that took a considerable amount of time, the chief said.
 
"It became apparent that there was a lot more potential victims than we knew about initially," he said, adding that some of the potential victims have yet to be identified.

MORE National ARTICLES

Big Banks Shave 2016 Growth Outlooks For Canada In Wake Of Alberta Wildfire

Experts, including those from several big banks, have shaved their outlooks in recent days following the huge blaze that tore through Fort McMurray — the heart of oil country.

Big Banks Shave 2016 Growth Outlooks For Canada In Wake Of Alberta Wildfire

Surrey RCMP Release Video Of Turbaned East Indian Suspect In Sex Assault Of Female Realtor

Surrey RCMP Release Video Of Turbaned East Indian Suspect In Sex Assault Of Female Realtor
He was wearing dark coloured pants, a light coloured shirt, a white turban.

Surrey RCMP Release Video Of Turbaned East Indian Suspect In Sex Assault Of Female Realtor

Help prevent brush fires: City of Surrey

Help prevent brush fires: City of Surrey
Open burning/backyard fires are not allowed in the City of Surrey. Anyone conducting open burning may be subjected to cost recovery for Fire Department attendance. 

Help prevent brush fires: City of Surrey

B.C. Nurses Approve Of Five-year Agreement With 5.5 Per Cent Wage Increase

B.C. Nurses Approve Of Five-year Agreement With 5.5 Per Cent Wage Increase
The deal includes government commitments to contribute $4 million to programs targeting workplace violence and rural recruitment of nurses.

B.C. Nurses Approve Of Five-year Agreement With 5.5 Per Cent Wage Increase

Vancouver Millennials Risk Debt While Pursuing Home Ownership Dreams: Report

Vancouver Millennials Risk Debt While Pursuing Home Ownership Dreams: Report
Vancity Credit Union finds that a typical couple aged 25 to 34, with a combined annual income of about $72,000, faces a monthly debt of $2,745 after property costs and other essentials such as taxes, food, utilities and transportation.

Vancouver Millennials Risk Debt While Pursuing Home Ownership Dreams: Report

B.C. Tightens Real Estate Rules To Protect Sellers From Contract Flipping

B.C. Tightens Real Estate Rules To Protect Sellers From Contract Flipping
  Finance Minister Mike de Jong said new regulations starting May 16 will require offers of sale to include two separate terms that deal with contract assignments in pending deals.

B.C. Tightens Real Estate Rules To Protect Sellers From Contract Flipping