Margharet Van Wyk Photo: Hockey Mom’s Accidental Nude WhatsApp Photo Could Lead To Criminal Charges For Whoever Leaked It

Margharet van Wyk intended to send the nude photo to her husband, but instead, the mom accidentally shared it with an entire WhatsApp group of fellow hockey parents, sparking a viral story that could now lead to criminal charges for those sharing the picture.

The incident started on Wednesday morning, when the South African mother posted her nude photo in a group called “hokkie ouers” along with a message to Chris, her husband. Quickly realizing her mistake, Margharet sent a message of apology, Channel 24 reported.

“Sorry everyone. Made a mistake. Was meant for my husband. Hi Chris, have you left yet?,” she wrote in a translated message.

But the moment of panic and embarrassment didn’t end there. As the report noted, someone in the WhatsApp group took a screenshot of Margharet van Wyk’s nude photo and posted it to the internet with the hashtag #MargaretVanWyk, which ended up as the biggest trending term across South Africa on Wednesday and Thursday.

The story has generated plenty of controversy, with many people speaking out in support of Margharet and condemning those who spread around what was meant to be a private photo and only shared by mistake.

Channel 24 reserved scorn both for the person who first shared the photo and also those who made it go viral.

“I’m sure Margharet wishes the world would swallow her whole right now – but she shouldn’t let this get her down. The one that should be most ashamed is the snitch who decided to share Margharet’s misfortune with the world.

“Adding fuel to the fire is the memes that quickly popped up just minutes after the story started going viral. There’s nothing the internet likes more than making fun of other people’s mistakes. It taps into our dark sadistic fantasies. We find joy in the misery as a sigh of relief because luckily this didn’t happen to us.”

But there is still a chance that Margharet van Wyk could see justice after the embarrassment of her photo leak. The news outlet ECR contacted a social media expert who said the people who first posted the photo could end up facing criminal charges.

“I would say that the people who posted it to social media do have some measure of legal liability. They have definitely infringed her privacy, they’ve definitely infringed her dignity,” said Shepstone & Wylie social media law expert Verlie Oosthuizen.

Margaret van Wyk – who could face criminal charges https://t.co/xivK8mcUKF

— StaySafeOnlineSA (@safeonlinesa) August 25, 2016

Margaret van Wyk – latest victim of social media bullying! https://t.co/TI8ZFSesWf pic.twitter.com/lXtu9dlqE4

— East Coast Radio (@ecr9495) August 25, 2016

Oosthuizen added that Margharet van Wyk could have a claim for cyber bullying — at least, if she chooses to take the matter to the police. Others who shared the photo could be in trouble as well, the expert said, but it is most likely to come for the person who initially shared the picture.

“Legally speaking, everybody who posted that image has got some kind of measure of legal liability, but as it goes down the chain it becomes less and less strong,” she said. “It’s the initial people that posted that picture that she would probably have a legal claim against.”

The story of Margharet van Wyk’s nude photo leak comes amid a similar controversy in the United States. Earlier in the week, someone hacked the personal website of actress and comedian Leslie Jones, posting her personal information including screenshots of her driver’s license and passport along with what were reported to be nude images of Jones.

Like the photo leak in South Africa, the incident in America could likely lead to criminal charges. The Los Angeles Times reported that the Department of Homeland Security is investigating the incident through its division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It’s not clear yet if there is any kind of formal investigation taking place in South Africa. Reports have not indicated if Margharet van Wyk has contacted authorities regarding her nude photo leak.

[Photo by Karly Domb Sadof/AP Images]