In the case of M.Ș.D. v. Romania the Court held that there had been a violation of the right to respect for private and family life.

The case concerned events following the breakup of a relationship, when the applicant was 18 years of age. Her ex-boyfriend, V.C.A., among other allegations, sent intimate pictures of her to family members and others, and posted the pictures, along with her personal details, on escort websites. The applicant promptly complained to the authorities about V.C.A.’s actions, but the criminal investigation and the related court proceedings remained pending for a long time, until even the statute of limitations for criminal liability expired. Most of the charges against V.C.A. were ultimately dropped.

The Court found that the legal framework had been inadequate – failing to protect the applicant from online violence – and that the investigation into her allegations had been ineffective, owing to excessive delays, the conduct of the authorities who have assigned part of the blame to the applicant thus contributing to her ”revictimisation”, as well as the express refusal of the prosecutor’s office to comply with the court’s orders.

• Press release
• Press release (in Romanian)