UK Libel:

Tom Young

See the below links: Businessman awarded £22,000 in landmark libel ruling over malicious fake Facebook profile.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1038262/Businessman-awarded-22-000-landmark-libel-ruling-malicious-fake-Facebook-profile.html

and:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23520507-details/Businessman+awarded+22,000+in+landmark+libel+ruling+over+malicious+fake+Facebook+profile/article.do

dee8839

It's a little bit scary that such a large amount was awarded. Does this mean that any 16 year old joker who set up a fake bebo in his friends name as a joke is potentially liable in a similar way?!

Tom Young

It would appear so, at least in the UK.

Quite often people don't realise [like around this discussion board etc] that libel is a reality. Of course proving damage is a real challenge.

By the way, your profile footer have a funny display going on.

Tom

dee8839

Cheers for the warning, I'm a little embarrassed that its been like that for about 100 of my 120 or so posts though!

I suppose the problem is, it just seems like such an insignificant thing to say, mention certain events on this forum and ask for advice. People seem to think that just because they personally would never take action on some minor slander or bad advice, that no-one would.

Perhaps cases like this one will give people the wake up call they need. It may seem pedantic, but its better safe than sorry (and broke!)

What do you think the likelihood of a similar case being taken in this country is? It seems a little bit frivolous, but then again, social networking sites are clearly being used in the courts now. Take the example of that guy whose threats to his girlfriends friend on his bebo were mentioned in his court case. Are social networking sites as evidence of a crime or tort becoming more and more prevelant?