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US laws on libel and defamation are shockingly good. Free speech is woven into our culture and the Constitution. This post is squarely in the center of what is
by btilly 7y ago
US laws on libel and defamation are shockingly good. Free speech is woven into our culture and the Constitution. This post is squarely in the center of what is meant to be protected.
UK laws are so horrible that the USA passed a law that UK libel judgements are not enforceable here. See https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-10940211 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-10940211 for more.
Canada is somewhere between the two.
Incidentally the country with the worst libel laws in the world is Australia.
- 9nGQluzmnq3M 7y agoI'm pretty sure South Korea wins that contest: libel is a criminal offense and truth is not a sufficient defense. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/fighting-for-justice-in-south-korea-where-truth-can-be-a-crime https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/fighting-for-jus...
- btilly 7y agoOuch. You’re right. Too bad I can no longer edit my comment
- TulliusCicero 7y ago> A growing number of alleged sex abusers are seeking to use legal actions of their own to force victims into silence or into dropping their accusations. > Filing a report to police is not in itself grounds for a defamation action, but if a rape victim goes public with their allegations, a criminal complaint can be filed against them. My God, that's horrifying.
- matthewheath 7y agoUK libel laws aren't that bad for situations like this — if he were sued in the UK, he could rely on the defence of honest opinion and I imagine he would prevail.