In the last few years, especially among teenagers, the sexting phenomenon has increased to such an extent that members of the school staff frequently had to intervene with a great number of students.

In order to be proactive, the SPVG decided to respond to the emergence of this phenomenon by creating a new prevention program called #KEEPITPRIVATE, which is presently being implemented in Gatineau high schools.

(in French only)

What is sexting?

Sexting is when a person creates, transmits or shares short messages, photos or videos of a sexual nature with another person via the Internet or an electronic device.

What makes sexting criminal?

When sexting includes electronic files of minors (e.g., photos or videos), it is a form of child pornography.

The Criminal Code regulates any photographic, film, video or other representation of a person under the age of 18, or presented as such, who is nude, partially nude or engaged in sexual activity. The Criminal Code makes it an offence to produce, distribute or possess child pornography.

Regardless of age, anyone who shares or distributes a sexual photograph or video without the consent of the person in the photograph or video commits the following Criminal Code offence: publishing intimate pictures without consent.

To find out what the Criminal Code states, click here.