subject: Online Libel – An unforeseen danger [print this page] The Internet can be a tad anarchic at times, especially as it regards libel or slander. This is because although there are laws regulating the Internet, there aren't many. This is part of what makes the Internet such a creative, fun, scary, resourceful, useless, place. The Internet is simply a tool, you see, and one which can be used for good or evil, creativity or destruction. Baseball bats are tools too, and they can be used for recreation or for violence--but it is not the fault of the baseball bat, it is simply the motivation of the wielder of that tool that determines its use.
This is what makes the Internet such a dangerous place for your reputation. Online libel is a frequent problem because of the generally anarchic and un-policed nature of the Internet. People are allowed to say virtually anything they want, anywhere they want, because there are rarely any consequences for spreading false information online. What consequences do exist are pretty much impossible to enforce because of a great degree of anonymity that is present online. Anyone who wants to be anonymous online does not have to try very hard. Furthermore, commenter who are from outside of the U.S. are not subject to the U.S. laws regarding libel or slander, so there is an added dimension of difficulty there.
Online reputation management is an industry which has sprung up in response to these unique online problems. It does not seek to use the law, however, to protect individuals from libel online. Rather, it utilizes positive publicity to displace whatever libel might exist. This mountain of positive publicity buries whatever negative comments might exist.
