The CBC is reporting that images and videos of a gang rape outside a rave in Pitt Meadows, B.C. are going viral on the internet.
A 16-year old girl was drugged and raped by 5 to 7 men in a field early Saturday morning. Police say that a 16-year-old boy took photos and videos of the gang rape, and posted them on Facebook. The images and video were then re-posted by others, and police are having a hard time stopping it.
RCMP Inspector Derren Lench said, "This victim is having to relive it on a daily basis, because we get the photos taken off, and then all of a sudden they're redistributed and others are viewing it." People caught posting these videos can be charged with child pornography, as the girl is under age.
This story is incredibly disturbing, and raises many concerns about how the police will deal with these types of incidents as we move into an increasingly digital world. Videos and images can go viral within minutes, even seconds. How can we protect the privacy and dignity of victims in situations like this?
Jezebel also has a post on this, discussing the victim-blaming that has been going on. Apparently anonomous commenters wrote things like, "Straight up WHORE," a "complete slut," and "Cmon who's not down for a gang bang" on Facebook. Additionally, a guy identified as Justin said to CTV, "We are thinking it's being over-exaggerated. I don't think she was as messed up as she's making it out to be," he said. "I don't think she was raped.... Apparently she was saying stuff."
It makes me disgusted and embarassed to be a member of the human race when I see this kind of victim-blaming and the backwards notions of consent that so many people in our society have.
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