The Legal Obligations of Private Organizations Regarding Surveillance Systems Capturing Sexual Assault

Download the legal memo here (pdf)

Continuing our work supporting survivors of sexual assault and harassment, we heard from survivors about the challenges they face accessing surveillance footage from private organizations after a sexual assault.

Thanks to support from Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) at the University of Victoria, law students researched the legal landscape and treatment of surveillance footage in private establishments, including the results from our survey of private businesses and police departments.

Data collection took place over an eight month period. The results of the survey were quite limited due to a lack of responses and temporary business closures in response to COVID-19 health measures.

Special thanks to PBSC law students, Michelle Liu and Olivia Startup, for their hard work on this project. We also want to recognize the supervising lawyer for the project, Alison Rhynas at Valletta & Company.

For further information about our research, email hello@creansociety.org or call 250-721-9611.

About Us

Coastal Research, Education, and Advocacy Network (CREAN) empowers vulnerable youth through community-based research, education, and advocacy. We use applied research to inform our services, with the intention of deepening connections and improving the lives of youth, families, and their communities.