Online defamation refers to the act of making false statements about an individual or entity on the internet that harm their reputation. This can occur through various online platforms, such as social media, blogs, forums, or news websites. The key elements of online defamation include the publication of a false statement, the intent or negligence behind the statement, and the resulting damage to the reputation of the person or organization defamed.
There are two primary types of online defamation: libel and slander. Libel pertains to written defamatory statements, while slander involves spoken defamatory statements. In many jurisdictions, for a statement to be considered defamatory, it must be presented as a fact rather than an opinion, it should be demonstrably false, and the person making the statement is often required to have acted with some level of fault regarding its truthfulness.
Victims of online defamation may seek legal remedies by filing lawsuits to recover damages, seek retractions, or obtain court orders to remove defamatory content from the internet. However, proving online defamation can be complex, as legal standards vary between jurisdictions, and defendants may invoke defenses such as freedom of speech or truth.
The South Korean court has emphasized the serious repercussions of spreading falsehoods, especially about popular figures like BTS's V and Jungkook. A YouTube channel operator faced substantial fines and criminal…