Claudine Morgan and Hannah Gornall write for Wealth Briefing on the rise of digital media and the impact on reputation management
The exponential rise of digital media has had a monumental impact on reputation management and the legal framework that is designed to safeguard individuals, whether in the context of bringing or defending a defamation claim. In today’s hyper-connected world, people can broadcast content to widespread audiences in an instantaneous and uncensored manner. The effect of this is twofold. On the one hand, individuals’ reputations are more exposed and therefore susceptible to attack from keyboard warriors at any given moment in time.
On the other, the ease of publishing content comes with serious legal responsibilities. Individuals posting, reposting or otherwise publishing content can unwittingly find themselves on the receiving end of a defamation claim, whether intentional or not. Emotion fuelled keyboard rampage, can have significantly damaging and expensive legal consequences.
Historically, most defamation cases were traditional media claims brought against mainstream publishers and journalists. With the rise of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (now X), Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and others, this legal issue has taken on new dimensions. Defamation, once primarily a concern for newspapers and broadcasters, is now a risk for anyone with a social media account.
In an article for Wealth Briefing, Claudine Morgan, Partner, and Hannah Gornall, Associate, in the Reputation Management team outline how defamation law applies to social media-based claims.
They explore:
- The legal framework
- Challenges for the courts
- Practical issues
Read the full piece in Wealth Briefing here (subscription required).
