What are defamation laws?
In legal terms, defamation means accusing a person of something that harms his or her reputation. Defamation, when published, is called libel. Pictures can also be libellous. Defamation laws allow people to sue those who publish material that harms their reputation. The original idea of defamation laws is to protect people against unfair attack. But today, governments worldwide abuse these laws, thus restricting freedom of speech. ARTICLE 19, a global organisation for free expression, states that: “Governments and government officials are abusing defamation and insult laws to suppress criticism of official wrongdoing, maladministration and corruption, and to avoid scrutiny. These laws often flout international principles and standards. They are also often unconstitutional.” Defamation can be either a criminal or a civil offence. The difference is that criminal offences usually carry prison sentences, whereas civil offences usually carry fines, but no imprisonment. Governments can suppr
