Q: Are people allowed to insult others, and what is the penalty for impairing a person’s dignity?
A: Both Codes protect the right to a person’s dignity, privacy and reputation. But this protection is not absolute. Claims to dignity and privacy may be overridden by legitimate public interest – which is not the same as mere interest in or curiosity about people’s lives. High-profile people enjoy less protection from the media than private individuals. Since deceased persons cannot claim a right to dignity, complaints on their behalf are not considered by the BCCSA. Furthermore, a complainant is not permitted to complain on behalf of another person. This is because dignity and privacy are personal and subjective, and tolerance varies from one individual to another.