Defamation actions: the high cost of social media posts, comments and likes

Rebel Wilson's massive $4.5 million damages award – the highest by a court for defamation damages in Australian history – signals that the courts are increasingly prepared to make big organisations pay big time for defamation.

The Victorian Supreme Court decision for Wilson against Bauer Media, publisher of Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly, New Weekly and OK! suggests that the courts are willing to defend people's reputation, not only against large media organisations, but also in response to ugly and abusive posts on social media. (See Wilson v Bauer Media Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 521.)

Victims can take legal action under law of defamation

Everyone needs to be careful what they post, like and comment on in social media, whether it be on Facebook, comments on business websites, or sledging individuals via Snapchat, Instagram or Twitter.