Voyeurism (s. 162)
Section 162 makes it an offence to surreptitiously observe or make a visual recording of a person in circumstances where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, if the person is nude or engaged in sexual activity, or if the observation or recording is done for a sexual purpose.
Penalties can include up to five years of imprisonment. The court can also order forfeiture and destruction of the recording.
Non-consensual distribution of intimate images (s. 162.1)
Section 162.1 makes it an offence to knowingly publish, distribute, transmit, sell, or make available an intimate image of a person without their consent. This applies even if the image was originally shared consensually.
'Intimate image' means a visual recording in which the person is nude, exposing their genitals, or engaged in explicit sexual activity, and in which the person had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Provinces have added civil remedies. For example, British Columbia's Intimate Images Protection Act, Ontario's Intimate Images Order, and similar statutes in other provinces allow rapid takedown orders and damages.
Interception of private communications (Part VI)
It is a criminal offence to wilfully intercept a private communication by means of an electromagnetic, acoustic, mechanical, or other device, unless authorized by law or by consent of one of the parties.
Police wiretap authorizations under Part VI are subject to strict judicial authorization requirements and review.
Identity theft and identity fraud (ss. 402.2-403)
Obtaining, possessing, or trafficking in another person's identity information with intent to commit certain offences is a crime. So is fraudulently personating another person.
Identity theft is both a criminal matter and a privacy matter. Victims may also pursue civil remedies under provincial consumer protection or privacy statutes.
Mischief in relation to computer data (s. 430(1.1))
It is an offence to wilfully destroy, alter, or render data meaningless, useless, or ineffective. This applies to ransomware, data corruption, and similar conduct.
How to report
Privacy-related offences are reported to local police. For non-consensual distribution of intimate images, CCyberTip.ca and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection can also help, particularly for cases involving minors.