Article Summary
Publication in defamation means communicating defamatory matter about the plaintiff to at least one person other than the plaintiff who can understand it.
A private accusation sent only to the person accused is not enough. Publication in defamation can occur through speech, writing, images, conduct, email, messaging apps, websites, reviews, search results and social-media activity.
The author is an obvious publisher, but liability can extend to an editor, media organisation, employer, republisher, page administrator or another person who intentionally participates in the communication.
Mere technical involvement does not always attract liability: Queensland now gives defined exemptions to some caching, conduit, storage and search-engine services, a complaints-based defence to qualifying digital intermediaries, and the defence of innocent dissemination to subordinate distributors.