Defamation: Social Media
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current libel laws in the context of social media.
Answered by Sarah Sackman
Defamation – which covers both libel and slander – concerns the publication of material that adversely affects a person’s reputation. Individuals who believe they have been defamed online can bring a claim under the tort of defamation, provided it meets the statutory requirements in the Defamation Act 2013. These requirements include demonstrating that the statement has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to their reputation.
The Government believes current defamation law provides adequate balance between freedom of expression and individuals’ right to privacy, and the courts routinely apply defamation law in the context of social media.
The Online Safety Act also contains a number of adjacent provisions related to the online publication of illegal misinformation and disinformation.
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