While Facebook can be a very useful tool for sharing photos, updating your status, and catching up with long lost friends; an errant post could lead to legal action. Consider the actions of a Melbourne Australia woman who thought she was warning people about a child predator taking photos of children at the Westfield Knox Target. The woman (who wishes to remain anonymous) took a photo of a many and shamed him on Facebook; calling him a ‘creep’.
Subsequently, the Facebook was shared over 20,000 times. In fact, woman even called the police to notify them of a child predator. However, the man, and father of three, had a perfectly honest explanation for his actions. After one of his friends told him that his picture was being shared on Facebook, he went to the local police to clear his name and explain his actions. That’s not the end of the story.
After finding out that she made a mistake, the woman removed the post and attempted to contact the man and ask for forgiveness. Too late lady! By that time, the man had already begun receiving death threats for his “activities”. Now, the woman that shared the post is also receiving death threats for her mistake.
The insurance perspective?
In this case, the woman could face civil litigation for her actions. While trying to do her civic duty, the woman could face a lawsuit for libel. Many umbrella policies provide protection against libel and slander accusations. Have you ever posted something in error?
Consider the following definitions:
li·bel – a published false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation; a written defamation.
synonyms: defamation, defamation of character, character assassination,calumny, misrepresentation, scandalmongering; More (in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) a plaintiff’s written declaration.verb1. LAWdefame (someone) by publishing a libel.“she alleged the magazine had libeled her”
synonyms: defame, malign, slander, blacken someone’s name, sully someone’s reputation, speak ill/evil of, traduce, smear, cast aspersions on, drag someone’s name through the mud, besmirch, tarnish, taint, tell lies about, stain, impugn someone’s character/integrity, vilify, denigrate,disparage, run down, stigmatize, discredit, slur; More 2. (in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) bring a suit against (someone).