Social media ne har insaan ko mini-publisher bana diya. Ek tweet, reel, ya story seconds me viral ho sakti hai. Yahan freedom of speech aur right to reputation directly clash karte hain.
Defamation law kehta hai: agar aap kisi ke baare me false statement publish karte ho jo unka social standing hurt kare, to aap liable ho sakte ho – civil compensation ke liye, kabhi-kabhi criminal case ke liye bhi.
Defence: truth (public interest ke context me), honest opinion, fair comment, good faith reporting. Lekin “bas mazaak tha”, “meme bana raha tha” har baar shield nahi banta.
Courts ab social media posts ko bhi seriously le rahe hain. Public figures ke liye criticism ka threshold higher hota hai, par totally baseless allegations ka license nahi. Normal citizens ke case me line aur sensitive hai.
User ke liye golden rule: jo cheez aap courtroom me evidence ke saath defend nahi kar sakte, wo random post me casually daalne se pehle do baar socho. Freedom ka matlab consequence-free zone nahi hota.