Musk’s X Fined in Canada Over Failure to Remove Intimate Image

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has been fined C$100,000 ($72,307) by a Canadian tribunal for failing to remove a non-consensual intimate image, marking the first such penalty against an internet intermediary under British Columbia’s Intimate Image Protection Act.

Case Background

• The Civil Resolution Tribunal first ruled in March that X must delete and remove the image of a woman identified as “TR”.

• Instead of removing it, X geofenced the content, blocking it in Canada but keeping it visible worldwide.

• Tribunal Vice Chair Eric Regehr rejected X’s argument that it lacked authority outside British Columbia, stating the order was straightforward: remove the image.

Tribunal’s Decision

• Regehr said X’s partial compliance left the victim exposed:

  “She lives in the knowledge that the vast majority of the world’s population can still see the intimate image on X.”

• The fine imposed was the maximum allowed, with the option for the woman to request additional daily penalties of up to C$5,000 if noncompliance continues.

• Compensation for the woman’s time was denied, partly due to AI-generated errors in her submissions.

Broader Implications

• The ruling highlights growing global pressure on platforms like X to act against abusive and exploitative content.

• British Columbia’s Ministry of Attorney General said it expects X to comply and pay fines, stressing it does not anticipate difficulties in enforcement.

• X and its legal counsel did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.