Defamation

Defamation is a communication that injures a third party's reputation and causes a legally redressable injury, with definitions varying by jurisdiction but generally extending beyond false factual assertions to broader harms to a person's dignity or honor. In English-speaking countries defamation is typically divided into libel, meaning written, printed, or broadcast statements, and slander, meaning spoken statements, and it may be treated as a civil wrong, a criminal offense, or both depending on the jurisdiction; international human rights bodies have recommended that states prioritize civil remedies and limit criminal defamation to the most serious cases.