The Business Cost of Online Defamation

The Internet has radically changed the way businesses and individuals communicate. Most people view this as a positive achievement and applaud the egalitarian ability of all to post online and locate information of interest. Along with these benefits, however, is the increasing damage done by those who post untrue business reviews, personal attacks and altered photos and videos. Interestingly, the average person will claim to support “freedom of speech” on the Internet – until they are the victim of a false accusation or hate speech. This paper examines when speech ceases to be “free” and crosses the line to defamation. It will discuss some of the laws that govern online defamation, provide situational examples and specify the costs incurred by victims of defamation. Finally, it will conclude with recommendations on how to proactively deal with potential defamation situations.