According to a recent survey performed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) , online hate and harassment is on the rise. In fact, last year, more than half of all Americans reported experiencing online hate and harassment at some point in their lives, a number that is up from 40% in 2022. Of the people who reported experiencing online harassment, 33% were adults and 51% were teens. Much of this online harassment takes place on social media, which may come as no surprise to those who spent time on these platforms. Social Media Platforms With The Most Hate Speech Of all the popular social media p ..read more

Online gaming is a popular and enjoyable hobby for many. However, the pastime does not come without its risks—especially when it comes to harassment. According to a 2023 survey from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 75% of online gamers reported being exposed to online hate or harassment last year. Since only 67% of gamers reported the same thing in the previous year, this means that hate and harassment in the online gaming space are unfortunately on the rise. Because online games are often multi-player, this can put certain individuals at risk for harassment from other players. According to A ..read more

Online reviews are commonplace these days, with customers often posting to share about good or not-so-great experiences with a business. In fact, businesses will often ask for reviews shortly after any customer interaction. However, when businesses invite people to leave online reviews, it can easily lead to defamation, which can ultimately harm the business’s reputation, leading the loss of both existing and prospective clients. What Constitutes a Defamatory Review? Business owners must first understand that there is a difference between a bad review and a defamatory review. Someone cannot be ..read more

Medical professionals often do not think of themselves as service providers who must market to consumers. There is an assumption that there is a built-in client base because people always need healthcare support. However, older healthcare professionals in particular may fail to recognize how the internet has changed consumer behavior. People now consult the internet when choosing a doctor or deciding if they need care at all. Angry or frustrated patients could very well post videos or reviews online that do major damage to a professional’s reputation or a private medical practice. All too ofte ..read more

Whether you’re a fan or not, artificial intelligence (AI) use continues to expand. This means that the use of “deepfake” technology is also a growing trend. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, “deepfake” refers to synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness using AI technology. In essence, a deepfake is an AI-created digital fabrication. Unfortunately, deepfakes are very realistic, making it difficult for viewers to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not. They have led to impersonation, fraud, blackmail, as well as the spread ..read more

As AI gains in both popularity and notoriety, the legal implications of this technology have begun to arise. It’s been found that, when entering queries about well-known individuals, ChatGPT may generate information that is false. Because of this, some legal experts believe that AI companies should be held responsible for any defamatory content they produce. Though Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects internet companies from legal liability for content posted by their users, many believe that the law should not apply to AI publishers. How Does AI Produce False Content? AI pub ..read more

The state of Florida is attempting to change their defamation laws, and if passed, the changes would make it easier for public officials to bring defamation lawsuits against their critics, namely those in the media. The proposed HB 757 would reverse decades of Supreme Court precedent on defamation law, allowing lawsuits to be brought against nearly anyone who publishes criticism of a public official. The repercussions of passing such legislation could lead to a huge increase in defamation lawsuits and, ultimately, cost the state millions of dollars in legal fees. Interestingly enough, similar ..read more

There’s no doubt that social media has become a huge part of our everyday lives. Whether we’re making connections with friends and family, or in the business world, nearly everyone is using at least one social media platform such as Facebook, Twitter/X, or Instagram. However, with this widespread use of social media comes an array of potential legal problems. This has led to the rise of a new legal specialty: social media lawyers. Social media lawyers specialize in internet-related legal issues, such as cyberbullying and online defamation, but they can also help people navigate many other onli ..read more

When people take to Facebook or other social media outlets to post about neighborhood crime, whether suspected or confirmed, it may seem fairly harmless. In fact, most people post this type of thing with the good intent of warning others who might be affected. However, this tactic, often known as “online naming and shaming” could get you into legal trouble because you are subjecting the named person to embarrassment, harassment, and/or public condemnation. Many online community pages are popular sites for posting photos or videos of alleged criminals in action, but publicly accusing someone of ..read more

There was once a time when capturing photos of people required special equipment and, at times, professional services. Now, most adults have devices more powerful than most cameras that require film. Individuals can take pictures of themselves or others and capture video footage of anything they experience. The proliferation of mobile devices has helped people capture self-portraits of all kinds. People are more comfortable than ever before sharing intimate images of themselves with prospective or current romantic partners because they control the process. Some people even monetize images of t ..read more