Two Nova Scotia teens are facing child pornography charges in connection with the alleged distribution of intimate images.
On Jan. 6, Windsor District RCMP responded to a complaint that three intimate images of a 15-year-old girl were being shared online.
Investigators allege the photographs were shared through text messages and on a chat website.
Other students noticed them and told school authorities, who reported the matter to police.
“Once an image like this is taken, an intimate image, there's very little that anyone can do, if anything at all, to ever take that image back,” said Nova Scotia RCMP Const. Mark Skinner.
A 15-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, both from Hants County, are facing charges of possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.
The girl faces an additional charge of publication of child pornography.
“The female had the image and she posted it on the online chat site which therefore would be the publication of child pornography,” said Skinner.
Police say the victim and the accused all know each other. The teens are due to appear in Windsor provincial court on April 1.
The incident is a stark reminder of the Rehtaeh Parsons case.
“It brings up emotions,” said Leah Parson, Rehtaeh’s mother. “But when I hear that is has been dealt with very quickly and efficiently, it gives me hope that the message is going to get out there to the student body that it's just not acceptable to share photos to degrade somebody this way.”
Police say the incident remains under investigation and they are reminding the public that it is illegal to distribute an intimate image of someone without their consent.
"These are very serious offences so as police, we are urging parents to start the conversation with their children about the proper use of smartphones and technology," said Skinner in a statement released Monday.
"Much of our youth are constantly communicating on their smartphones. We need to ensure they understand the gravity of their actions and the consequences associated to the sharing of intimate images without consent."
Police say the images have been shared with a number of people, but they're still investigating how wide it's been spread.
Parsons says the case illustrates even more awareness is necessary.
“We have to get into those schools,” she said. “We have to keep talking and we have to keep telling the students how important this is because these are teenagers, who do things on impulse.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell and The Canadian Press.
