Defamation (Civil & Criminal) And Online Reputation Cases: Understanding Rights In Digital Age

In the modern digital landscape, the internet has become a powerful platform for exercising the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. However, this freedom comes with a significant responsibility, especially when it concerns the right to reputation.

Reputation, as recognized across common-law jurisdictions, is a fundamental facet of personal dignity. In India, this principle is not merely moral but constitutional; the right to reputation has been read into Article 21 as an essential component of the right to life.

Simultaneously, Article 19(1)(a) preserves the right to free speech, making defamation law a delicate exercise in balancing individual dignity with democratic expression.