A Nova Scotia woman whose intimate images were shared online without her consent is asking a court to lift a publication ban protecting her identity so she can raise awareness of domestic abuse and the challenges of removing such content from the internet.
Natalie Brown, a 39-year-old woman from Halifax, Nova Scotia, found herself in a nightmare scenario when she stumbled upon a video of herself engaged in a sexual act posted on Fetlife, a Canadian social networking site for people interested in fetishism. The video, taken without her knowledge while she was blindfolded at her then-partner's request, had been online for four years. Brown's ex-partner, Conor Dolan, was charged with voyeurism and the distribution of intimate images without consent.
He initially pleaded not guilty but later accepted a joint recommendation from the Crown and the defence, pleading guilty to the distribution charge in exchange for the dropped voyeurism charge. This resulted in a four-month conditional sentence, commonly known as house arrest, and a criminal record for Dolan.Brown's experience has been deeply traumatic. She described feeling humiliated, stupid, embarrassed, and scared upon discovering the video. The incident amplified her fear of intimate partner violence, having been motivated by a recent rash of killings in Nova Scotia believed to be related to such violence. Determined to raise awareness about domestic abuse and the challenges of removing intimate images from the internet, Brown bravely asked the court to lift the publication ban protecting her identity. The judge, Justice Tim Daley, acknowledged the seriousness of Dolan's actions, stating that it constituted a 'massive loss of privacy' and was an act of 'intimate partner online sexual abuse.' He emphasized that had the case gone to trial, Dolan might have faced jail time. While Dolan expressed remorse in court, stating he was 'tremendously sorry,' Brown's victim impact statement painted a poignant picture of her ongoing struggle. She worried that her friends, co-workers, and neighbours might have seen the video, emphasizing the profound violation of her autonomy and dignity. The court's decision, granting Brown's request to lift the publication ban, allows her to share her story and hopefully prevent others from experiencing similar trauma
Intimate Partner Violence Online Abuse Domestic Violence Publication Ban Sexual Assault Revenge Porn
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