We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

Online Defamation

essay
The whole doc is available only for registered users
  • Pages: 3
  • Word count: 556
  • Category: Abuse

A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed

Order Now

What Is Defamation?

Defamation is a false and unprivileged statement of fact that is harmful to someone’s reputation, and published “with fault,” meaning as a result of negligence or malice. State laws often define defamation in specific ways. Libel is a written defamation;

Slander is a spoken defamation.

Online defamation is the publication of such statements made on any Internet based media including blogs, forums, websites, and even social networking websites. While many Internet users believe that they are free to say and do as they like while on the Internet, this is untrue and the same defamation laws and regulations stand for online defamation as they do in any form of media. If you tweet, blog, tag or post, here are five steps to keep you out of defamation danger:

1 .Know what constitutes defamation.

Just as its name suggests, defamation is when you defame another person through harmful statements about another person that you know or should know are false. -Slander, when such statements are spoken, and libel, when they are written, are forms of defamation.

2) Stick to facts; avoid opinions that could be construed as facts.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it’s critical to distinguish the difference between opinion and fact. If you believe a politician lied about his or her campaign finances, for example, but it’s not been proven, it’s best to precede any verbal or written statements about that belief with the words “in my opinion.” It’s better yet to keep potentially defamatory thoughts to yourself.

3) No name-calling.

Even if you think the latest celebrity mistress is a home wrecker, name-calling can constitute character assassination. He or she may believe their paramour truly was separated at the time of the affair, in which case the home was already wrecked and your statement is false.

4) Let readers reach their own conclusions.

It’s likely that when faced with the facts, the same facts you encountered, many of your Facebook followers will view situations much the same way you do–without you exposing yourself to defamation claims.

5) Don’t retweet or link to someone else’s potential defamatory material.

Someone else may originate a rumor, but that doesn’t stop it from being untrue. Regardless of where a defamatory statement originated, anyone who repeats it is just as liable as the initial source. What are some examples of libelous and non-libelous statements? The following are a couple of examples from California cases; note the law may vary from state to state. Libelous (when false):

•Charging someone with being a communist (in 1959)
•Calling an attorney a “crook”
•Describing a woman as a call girl
•Accusing a minister of unethical conduct
•Accusing a father of violating the confidence of son

Not-libelous:

•Calling a political foe a “thief” and “liar” in chance encounter (because hyperbole in context) •Calling a TV show participant a “local loser,” “chicken butt” and “big skank” •Calling someone a “bitch” or a “son of a bitch”

•Changing product code name from “Carl Sagan” to “Butt Head Astronomer” Since libel is considered in context, do not take these examples to be a hard and fast rule about particular phrases. Generally, the non-libelous examples are hyperbole or opinion, while the libelous statements are stating a defamatory fact.

Related Topics

We can write a custom essay

According to Your Specific Requirements

Order an essay
icon
300+
Materials Daily
icon
100,000+ Subjects
2000+ Topics
icon
Free Plagiarism
Checker
icon
All Materials
are Cataloged Well

Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email.

By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.
Sorry, but only registered users have full access

How about getting this access
immediately?

Your Answer Is Very Helpful For Us
Thank You A Lot!

logo

Emma Taylor

online

Hi there!
Would you like to get such a paper?
How about getting a customized one?

Can't find What you were Looking for?

Get access to our huge, continuously updated knowledge base

The next update will be in:
14 : 59 : 59