Redrafted Nova Scotia anti-cyberbullying law comes into force
HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia anti-cyberbullying law that was inspired by the death of Rehtaeh Parsons has been redrafted and is now in force, giving a team of investigators a fresh mandate to stop people posting harmful words or images online.
The original law was created after the 17-year-old attempted suicide and was taken off life support in 2013 following the circulation of a digital photo of what her family says was a sexual assault.
However, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court squashed the previous Cyber-safety Act — the first of its kind in Canada — when it ruled in 2015 that its wide definition of cyberbullying infringed on Charter rights and freedom of expression.
Roger Merrick, head of the province’s CyberScan unit, says he believes the new Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act proclaimed Thursday balances freedom of expression with preventing people from being harmed by malicious postings.