You Could Be Guilty of Internet Defamation & Cyber Bullying
Libel and Slander on the Internet is a Crime in Canada.
There
are many people who have a hard time managing their emotions and
conducting themselves in a professional manner when they become
disgruntled. With the internet right at their finger tips, they 'loose
it' and feel the need to go online to use social media to harm others.
They take all their anger and frustration online and loudly shout it out
across their social networks and blog to complain and bad mouth their
victim – whether their victim is a person or individual, a group or
organization, or a business or brand.
Despite
there being any truth in their complaints or not, it is now a crime in
Canada to publicly bash and humiliate others online for personal gain,
and to commit libel and slander online. This crime is called Internet
Defamation.
It is important for
Canadians to understand the internet was never meant to be used as a
tool to harm others. It goes back to proper education. For some reason
certain people think that they are entitled to behave this way - using
social media to harm - when in fact they are committing a criminal
offence
Take stock of your online behaviour and answer the question: Am I using social media for good, or am I using it to hurt others?
To narrow things down even further, ask yourself these questions .... are you:
- someone who has written something spiteful, malicious or untrue about another person or entity online?
- a
consumer who has made public complaints on social networks or blogged
negatively against a supplier because you were upset or mad at them?
- Someone
who rallied fans and followers against a person, a company or brand,
encouraging negative behaviour of your fans and followers to
participate in making negative derogatory comments?
- Someone
who rewards a fan or follower for making the `best` comment against
the person or entity you were talking badly about online?
- Someone
who brags publicly online that you are posting negatively against a
person or business on your social networks and blog to draw attention to yourself ?
- someone who hops
on the bandwagon - when seeing negative posts, you jump in to make
negative comments yourself, or you re-tweet, share and re-post?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have committed Internet Defamation and Cyber Bullying - both of which are criminal offenses.
On
the flip side, if you are a business, brand or individual who is on
the receiving end of someone’s malicious, spiteful comments, you do have
rights under Canada’s libel and slander laws. While at one time it was
believed there is nothing that can be done, that is no longer the case
here in Canada.
I
have taken the following information from a Toronto Law Firm Website
that may be helpful to those who are victims of Internet Defamation: http://zvulony.ca/portfolio/ask-a-defamation-lawyer
The
internet is a powerful communications tool. It gives us the
unprecedented power to communicate a message instantly to our friends,
family, and the world. The internet also empowers us to quickly reach a
mass audience at a relatively inexpensive cost. Unfortunately, this
power of communication can be abused all too easily.
Internet Revenge Victims
Is
your business being ruined by a malicious consumer complaint or someone
seeking on-line revenge? Has someone accused you of being a scam, a
rip off, or a fraud. Are Google results ruining your reputation?
Defamation Law Issues
Are
you a victim of a malicious consumer complaint? Has someone written
something malicious or untrue about you online? Are you a blogger being
silenced? Are search engine results ruining your reputation? Has someone
accused you of defaming them? Are you an ISP or website owner concerned
about the actions of your users? Do you have a question about
Defamation of character?
If you answered yes to any of these questions,
then it is possible someone has committed Internet Defamation and you
are entitled to seek professional council and take action against the
person committing the crime.
On the flip side,
if you are thinking `Gee, I have done these things – I am the person
complaining about poor customer service and making spiteful comments
about people and businesses online` or 'Yikes, I re-tweeted, re-posted
and shared someone's complaints, I even threw in a few of my own
complaints' ... you may want to re-think your online behavior and
digital footprints.
Still wondering if you are guilty? Here`s
a good list taken from @stickyjesus - if you`ve posted or seen posts
like this - you`ve committed cyber bullying at least, and quite possibly
Internet Defamation:
http://stickyjesus.com/2011/02/count-to-10-before-you-hit-send
You’ve seen the posts (and just maybe even shared a few)
: The service @____ is horrible
- The waitresses @____ are clueless
- Some people don’t deserve to _____
- _____ customer service rep is______
- That idiot at _____ figured my bill wrong
- I will die of old age just waiting for service @____
- The pastor at ______ is preaching on ______ again
- My husband / wife is _____
- My kid never____
- That teacher is_____
- Our (insert government leader) is an _____
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR GOOD:
Some people reading this post may be wondering why we are so passionate about this topic.
The
bottom line is we work with local, national and international
organizations that promote the responsible use of digital media and
being a good cyber friend and neighbour. In this line of work, we
educate others on Internet safety, creating positive digital footprints,
and protecting your online identity, reputation, image and brand
(Reputation Management) amongst many other things.
We
work with many Government organizations, industry groups and corporate
clients on how to use the Internet and social media for marketing,
promotions and business communication. We help companies and individuals
realize the benefits of using digital technologies as communications
and productivity enhancement tools.
We
also work with women and girl organizations on Internet Safety. With
the amount of online cyber bullying, we stress the importance of adults
being good role models in responsible online behaviour and using social
media for good, not to use it as a tool to harm and hurt others.
Naturally,
in both realms, we need to keep a pulse on Canadian legislation as it
relates to Internet Defamation. Quite simply, many people are not
aware that when they complain online about others, they are putting
themselves at risk of committing criminal offences known as Internet
Defamation and Cyber Bullying.
We
encourage everyone to use the Internet and Social Media responsibly,
and to be a good Cyber Friend & Neighbour. Lets lead by example and
be good role models for responsible use online behavior.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author: Nancy Beth Guptill
Founder of Sweet Spot Marketing Canada
Digital Marketing & Social Media Training Consultant
http://www.SweetSpotMarketing.ca
http://www.SweetSpotInternetAcademy.ca
http://www.SweetSpotMarketingAcademy.ca
Twitter:
@SweetMarketing
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/SweetMarketing
ABOUT SWEET SPOT MARKETING:
MISSION: We
help companies and individuals realize the benefits of using digital
technologies as communications and productivity enhancement tools. Our goal is to encourage and motivate our clients to: Do, Act & Experiment.
DESCRIPTION: We
are Marketing, Digital Technology and New & Social Media training
consultants. We live by the motto "
It is better to know than to think
you know - there is power in knowledge". Our goal is to share
information on a variety of business development topics including
digital technology, new and social media, marketing automation,
creativity, commercial innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
