Comments on: Is defamation in online communities slander or libel? http://blog.freshnetworks.com/2008/08/is-defamation-in-online-communities-slander-or-libel/ Social media, Web 2.0 and online communities Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:33:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Eric http://blog.freshnetworks.com/2008/08/is-defamation-in-online-communities-slander-or-libel/#comment-1770 Eric Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:52:25 +0000 http://blog.freshnetworks.com/?p=264#comment-1770 What have US courts held regarding internet transmissions being slander? What have US courts held regarding internet transmissions being slander?

]]> By: Matt Rhodes http://blog.freshnetworks.com/2008/08/is-defamation-in-online-communities-slander-or-libel/#comment-795 Matt Rhodes Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:02:16 +0000 http://blog.freshnetworks.com/?p=264#comment-795 Hey, Thanks for the comment. It's true that it seems a little strange that something that is permanent, searchable and published like this is treated as slander. I'm sure there might be more complexity to the case that we need to uncover but the elements of the judgement that interest me are those that suggest that the nature of the exchange mattered more than the medium / recording of it. The fact that it is a 'conversation' seems to have overridden it being recorded for posterity. Matt Hey,

Thanks for the comment. It’s true that it seems a little strange that something that is permanent, searchable and published like this is treated as slander. I’m sure there might be more complexity to the case that we need to uncover but the elements of the judgement that interest me are those that suggest that the nature of the exchange mattered more than the medium / recording of it. The fact that it is a ‘conversation’ seems to have overridden it being recorded for posterity.

Matt

]]> By: BobbyB http://blog.freshnetworks.com/2008/08/is-defamation-in-online-communities-slander-or-libel/#comment-794 BobbyB Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:34:12 +0000 http://blog.freshnetworks.com/?p=264#comment-794 Interesting that they have decided to view these comments as slanders, even if they may be permanently recorded. For me, the crux of the matter is not the casual nature of the conversations, but the fact that the record is there (potentially) permanently for anyone to see. If you post something defamatory, and others hear about it, they can very easily go and find it, read it in full, show it to their friends etc, and so the defamation spreads further. It seems like our oldy worldy definitions of 'permanent' and 'transitory' may be in need of a shake-up in the world of web 2.0. Interesting that they have decided to view these comments as slanders, even if they may be permanently recorded. For me, the crux of the matter is not the casual nature of the conversations, but the fact that the record is there (potentially) permanently for anyone to see. If you post something defamatory, and others hear about it, they can very easily go and find it, read it in full, show it to their friends etc, and so the defamation spreads further.

It seems like our oldy worldy definitions of ‘permanent’ and ‘transitory’ may be in need of a shake-up in the world of web 2.0.

]]>