CASE SUMMARIES An illicit video and one woman’s brave battle for justice: The case of Ruby Keywords: taking video without consent; publishing video without consent; sharing private information; verbal abuse; emotional harm; harm to reputation; invasion of privacy; YouTube; blogs; pornography websites; video; DVD; abuser is someone known; abuser is someone unknown; reported to law enforcement; investigation initiated; reported abuse to provider; intermediary liability law; women survivors of online violence; legislation The Story and the Violence Ruby is a model-actress, and brand endorser in the Philippines. Like many celebrities, Ruby sought cosmetic treatments, and in 2007, a man named Dr. Yu treated her at a well-known cosmetic clinic. Not long after, Ruby, then in her early 20’s, and Yu became lovers. Like most secret loves, their affair was carried out in a hotel room. The relationship soon fizzled out, and in 2008, Ruby received a tip from a reporter: a sex video involving her and Yu would be released. Sure enough, in December 2008, four videos of Yu and Ruby depicting their time together at the hotel were published online. Subsequently, people began downloading the videos and selling them as DVDs. Ruby maintains that she was unaware she was being recorded, whereas Yu contends that she knew there was a camera, but he was not responsible for uploading the videos. The videos went viral, and each time they were reposted, Ruby felt she was being violated again and again. Already labelled a “sexy actress” at the time, she faced acute harassment and verbal abuse online following the release of the videos. One commenter writes, “I really don’t pity Ruby because she did it on herself…She gave a signal to the whole world that she’s not the type of woman you will respect.” At the time of their affair Yu was in a relationship with the owner of the cosmetic clinic, leaving others to believe that it was the owner and Yu who were the real victims. Another commenter states, “Don’t you all think that she maliciously has done a great harm to her own gender … Ruby is such a slut!” <End Violence: Women’s Rights and Safety Online> 25