Full Answer Section

There are a number of defences available to a defendant in a defamation case, including:

• Truth: If the statement is true, it is not defamatory.
• Privilege: If the statement was made in the course of a judicial proceeding, parliamentary debate, or other privileged occasion, it is not defamatory.
• Fair comment: If the statement is a fair comment on a matter of public interest, it is not defamatory.
• Absolute privilege: There are a few situations where the statement is absolutely privileged, such as statements made in Parliament or in the course of legal proceedings.

Online defamation is a growing area of law. The same principles of defamation law apply to online statements as to offline statements. However, there are some specific issues that arise in the context of online defamation, such as the identification of the defendant and the jurisdictional reach of the law.

The law of defamation is a complex area of law, and it is important to seek legal advice if you are considering making or defending a claim for defamation.

The law of defamation ensures that freedom of speech is not abused by protecting people from false and defamatory statements that can damage their reputation. However, the law also recognizes that freedom of speech is an important right, and it allows for a number of defences to defamation claims. The law of defamation is a balance between these two important interests.