LIABILITY IN CASES OF ONLINE DEFAMATION: A GLOBAL ISSUE

Defamation means actual or presumed damage to the reputation flowing from publication. In other words, defamation flows from publication (or communication) of information. When the defamatory imputation is published in an electronic form it is the case of online defamation. But, number of other significant issues arises in the attempt to apply law of defamation of one country to Internet related behaviour such as who is to be held liable for defamatory comments, law of which country is to be applied, what liability is to be fixed etc. It is also pertinent to notice that with the advent of Social Networking sites which have become very popular among the people of all ages, the liability in cases of online defamation has become global issue.