Can you sue someone for slander on Facebook?

Asked by: Joany Ward  |  Last update: October 5, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (40 votes)

Bringing a lawsuit against someone for something they said on Facebook is no different than any other type of slander case. The plaintiff must prove the above elements. On Facebook, the slanderous comments would need to be in the form of a video or livestream, as written comments on Facebook would be considered libel.

What can I do if someone slanders me on Facebook?

If you see an abusive or slanderous comment about yourself on the site, use Facebook's report feature to alert administrators. The site does caution, however, that not all content you find objectionable will automatically be removed. If the comment is not clearly slanderous, Facebook may not see fit to delete it.

Can you sue someone for slander on social media?

While the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, it still allows individuals who publish those false statements to be sued for defamation. In short, freedom of speech does not give anyone—not even social media users—the right to say or publish whatever they want without repercussions.

Can I be sued for defamation for a Facebook post?

People can and do sue individuals for defamation in response to social media posts, however. For example, in 2017, a woman had to pay $500,000 after she made a Facebook post that implied a former rival was responsible for their child's death in a drunk-driving wreck – something that was completely false.

Can you sue someone for saying something about you on Facebook?

The answer is yes, but you have to meet each of the four legal elements that define defamation of character. Your lawyer also has to present convincing evidence not only that the defendant made defamatory statements on Facebook but also that the statement has damaged your personal and/or professional reputation.

What to Do If You Are the Target of Social Media Defamation

33 related questions found

Can I sue someone for spreading lies about me?

A slander lawsuit is a lawsuit you can file after someone defames you. Defamation occurs when someone makes a false statement of fact to a third party and causes you harm as a result. Defamation is a tort, which means it is a civil wrong, so you can file suit to obtain monetary damages from the person who committed it.

Is it illegal to say something bad about someone on Facebook?

Reputation-damaging lies that are spoken aloud or communicated orally on Facebook are considered slander. Livestreams and videos, for instance, can be slanderous if they include defamatory statements.

What to do when someone is slandering you?

If you're confident that you are indeed dealing with an instance of online defamation, there are several steps you can take to remedy the situation.
  1. Do Nothing. ...
  2. Collect Evidence. ...
  3. Get a Lawyer. ...
  4. Send a Cease and Desist Letter. ...
  5. Publish Your Own Statement. ...
  6. Sue for Defamation.

Can you sue someone for talking bad about you on the Internet?

Internet Defamation

You can take legal action against someone who publishes defamatory material against you online, such as a disparaging blog post, Twitter update, or YouTube video. However, you cannot file a defamation case against an Internet platform like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

What are examples of media defamation?

Claiming that Someone Has Committed a Crime: For example, saying that someone has stolen money or committed fraud. Making False Statements About Someone's Business or Professional Reputation: For example, claiming that someone is a dishonest or incompetent employee or business owner.

What legally counts as slander?

Key Takeaways. Slander is the legal term used to describe false statements made by one party against another. It is a form of defamation that is communicated verbally to a third party, which makes it temporary. The subject of slanderous statements can pursue legal action against the slanderer(s).

How do I prove defamation online?

A plaintiff suing for online defamation typically must show that the defendant:
  1. made a false statement of fact.
  2. the statement was made to someone other than the plaintiff.
  3. the statement harmed the plaintiff's reputation, and.
  4. the defendant was "negligent" (careless) about whether the statement was true or false.

What is social slander?

It means harming the reputation of a person in front of a third party.

How do you get someone's post removed from Facebook?

To report a post, you will have to perform the following steps: Login into Facebook and locate the post about you on your timeline. Like before, click on the 3 dots to access the dropdown menu. In the dropdown menu will be a button that says “Report.” Click this button to submit a report to Facebook's moderation team.

Are defamation cases hard to win?

Is it hard to win a defamation case? Defamation lawsuits are challenging because they require a lot of fact-finding. It may require experts to testify on your behalf about the psychological and emotional harm you've suffered. Unless your lawyer is working on a contingency basis, it can also be quite costly.

Can you get in trouble for talking bad about someone on social media?

Negative statements about people or companies appear frequently on social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook. If they are false statements of fact, they can be considered defamation in some circumstances, or more specifically libel because they are written statements.

What is the difference between slander and defamation?

Defamation includes slander and libel. Libel is the act of defaming another person through writings, such as newspapers, other publications, articles, blogs or social media postings. Slander is the act of making a false oral statement about the character or professional standing of another person.

How do you fight against slander?

Call a lawyer.

Personal injury attorneys are often likely to do some of this work, or those who specialize in other forms of civil litigation. Your lawyer will likely want to write a letter to the defamer and insist that the slander/libel cease and desist.

What is the test for defamation?

A statement is not defamatory unless its publication has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to the reputation of the claimant. Defences may be based on truth, public interest, privilege or honest opinion.

What is it called when someone spreads lies about you?

The terms libel and slander — written or spoken lies about a person, group, or business — both fall under the category of defamation.

What violates Facebook rules?

Community Standards
  • Violence and IncitementDangerous Organizations and IndividualsCoordinating Harm and Promoting CrimeRestricted Goods and ServicesFraud and Deception.
  • Suicide and Self-InjuryChild Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and NudityAdult Sexual ExploitationBullying and HarassmentHuman ExploitationPrivacy Violations.

What are the consequences of Internet defamation?

Damages may include general money damages for the loss of business, harm to reputation, and other compensatory damages. Damages may also include punitive damages and an award for legal fees. If the online defamation is especially harmful, it can result in millions of dollars in damages.

Is it illegal to post someone on Facebook without permission?

If you discover that someone posted either photos or videos of you or your family on a social media site without your permission, the first thing to know is that it is illegal. Keep in mind that every platform has a different privacy policy, so the individual that posts may think they did nothing wrong.

Is suing for defamation worth it?

Defamation is a type of personal injury. The value of your defamation case is based on your individual circumstances. If you win your defamation case, you could get millions of dollars or as little as $1. You can typically get compensation for financial losses and emotional distress in a defamation case.

What proof do you need for defamation of character?

Although the rules vary slightly by state, the elements of a defamation case you need to prove include the following: A false statement of fact was made. Statements of opinion, parody and true statements cannot be grounds for a defamation claim. A third party heard or read the defamatory statement.