Defamation

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Defamation is a communication that injures a third party's reputation and causes a legally redressable injury. The precise legal definition of defamation varies from country to country. It is not necessarily restricted to making assertions that are falsifiable, and can extend to concepts that are more abstract than reputation such as dignity and honour.

In the English-speaking world, the law of defamation traditionally distinguishes between libel (written, printed, posted online, published in mass media) and slander (oral speech). It is treated as a civil wrong (tort, delict), as a criminal offence, or both.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Defamation and related laws can encompass a variety of acts (from general defamation and insult – as applicable to every citizen –‍ to specialized provisions covering specific entities and social structures):^[5]

Defamation against a legal person in general
Insult against a legal person in general
Acts against public officials
Acts against state institutions (government, ministries, government agencies, armed forces)
Acts against state symbols
Acts against the state itself
Acts against heads of state
Acts against religions (blasphemy)
Acts against the judiciary or legislature (contempt of court)

^ "Defamation". Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^ "Defamation | Definition, Slander vs. Libel, & Facts". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^ Cite error: The named reference OSCE Report 2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference OSCE Report 2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ OSCE Report 2017, pp. 31–33.