Five years after its closure, legal battles persist over the anonymous Instagram account 'victimsvoicesregina' (also known as Survivor's Stories Regina), which posted sexual assault, harassment, and abuse allegations against men in Regina in 2020. A recent Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision ordered SaskTel to release identifying documents, potentially revealing the two women who operated the account. Experts, such as Mandi Gray, highlight that defamation lawsuits are increasingly used to silence alleged victims, particularly since the MeToo movement. At least three lawsuits have been filed, including a $1 million suit by Ryan Boldt, alleging defamation and seeking damages.
Court battles continue over Sask. Instagram account that made anonymous sexual violence allegations in 2020
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AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Five years after its closure, legal battles persist over the anonymous Instagram account 'victimsvoicesregina' (also known as Survivor's Stories Regina), which posted sexual assault, harassment, and abuse allegations against men in Regina in 2020. A recent Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision ordered SaskTel to release identifying documents, potentially revealing the two women who operated the account. Experts, such as Mandi Gray, highlight that defamation lawsuits are increasingly used to silence alleged victims, particularly since the MeToo movement. At least three lawsuits have been filed, including a $1 million suit by Ryan Boldt, alleging defamation and seeking damages.
Trending- 1 July 2020: victimsvoicesregina Instagram account launched.
- 2 Soon after launch: Account shut down due to legal threats.
- 3 June 2021: Ryan Boldt files $1M civil lawsuit.
- 4 April 2024: Court of King's Bench judge rules against Boldt's application for identifying documents.
- 5 May 8 (likely 2025): Saskatchewan's Court of Appeal orders SaskTel to hand over identifying documents.
- 6 Ongoing: Other related lawsuits continue.
- Continued legal proceedings and court battles
- Potential identification of the anonymous operators of the Instagram account
- Financial damages sought by plaintiffs (e.g., $1,000,000 by Ryan Boldt)
- Concerns raised about the use of defamation lawsuits to silence alleged victims of sexual violence
- Impact on the MeToo movement and online platforms for sharing allegations
What: Ongoing court battles and defamation lawsuits related to the anonymous Instagram account 'victimsvoicesregina' (Survivor's Stories Regina), which posted sexual violence allegations in 2020. A recent Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision ordered SaskTel to release identifying documents of the account operators.
When: The Instagram account was launched in July 2020 and shut down shortly after. Ryan Boldt's civil lawsuit was filed in June 2021. A Court of King's Bench judge ruled against Boldt in April 2024. The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal issued its decision on May 8 (likely 2025). Lawsuits are continuing five years after 2020.
Where: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The legal proceedings are taking place in Saskatchewan's Court of Appeal and Court of King's Bench.
Why: Men named on the anonymous Instagram account filed defamation lawsuits, alleging that the posts were false and damaging. The account was created as part of the MeToo movement to provide a platform for survivors of sexual violence to share their stories.
How: Lawsuits were filed against the operators of the Instagram account and Meta Platforms. Legal applications were made to telecommunication companies (Telus, Access, SaskTel) to obtain identifying information of the account holders. The Court of Appeal overturned a previous ruling, ordering SaskTel to produce the relevant documents.