Defamation cases rise over Facebook and Twitter posts

Publishing nasty comments on social media is risky. People are fighting back with defamation writs, and winning.

Att: Karina Grift BELGRADE - JUNE 13, 2014 Social media website logos Facebook, Twitter and other printed on paper

Social media posts are driving a boom in defamation cases for Australian lawyers.

Law firm Slater and Gordon says 48 per cent all defamation inquires received in the past financial year related to social media and 43 per cent concerned Facebook posts.

Defamation lawyer Jeremy Zimet said social media was changing the landscape of defamation.

The internet had created a new class of publishers — ordinary people, he said.

Mr Zimet said not all inquiries resulted in defamation action. Sometimes the removal of the offending post and an apology was enough to prevent legal action.

In a recent case, a NSW teenager was ordered to pay $105,000 for defaming a teacher on Twitter.

In Western Australia a woman had to pay $12,500 to her ex-husband after posting damaging claims about him on Facebook.