Wikipedia:Libel: Difference between revisions

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{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}

{{policy}}

{{Short description|Wikipedia policy with legal considerations}}

The goal of [[Wikipedia]] is to create an [[encyclopedia|encyclopedic]] information source adhering to a [[NPOV|neutral point-of-view]] style of prose, with all information being [[references|referenced]] through the [[citation]] of reliable [[published]] [[Primary source|sources]], so as to maintain a standard of [[verifiability]].

{{legal policy|WP:LIBEL|WP:LBL}}

For this reason, all contributors should recognize that it is '''their responsibility''' to ensure that material posted on [[Wikipedia]] is not [[Slander and libel|defamatory]].

{{nutshell|Delete [[Defamation|libelous]] material when it has been identified.}}

{{Wiktionary|libel}}

{{legal policy list}}

The goal of [[Wikipedia]] is to create an [[encyclopedia|encyclopedic]] information source adhering to a [[Wikipedia:Neutral point of view|neutral point of view]], with [[reference]]d information through the [[citation]] of [[WP:Identifying reliable sources|reliable published sources]], so as to maintain a standard of [[Wikipedia:Verifiability|verifiability]].<ref name="Wales_2006-05-16_WikiEN-l" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Article Basics - Editing Wikipedia - Guides at Middlebury College |url=https://middlebury.libguides.com/wikipedia/articlebasics |website=Middlebury Libraries |publisher=Middlebury College |access-date= February 16, 2025}}</ref>

ForIt thisis reason,the responsibility of all contributors should recognize that it is '''their responsibility''' to ensure that the material posted on [[Wikipedia]] is not [[Slander and libelDefamation|defamatory]].

It is Wikipedia [[policy]] to delete libellous revisions from the [[Wikipedia:Page history|page history]].

It is a [[WP:List of policies|Wikipedia policy]] to immediately delete [[Defamation|libelous]] material when it has been identified. Page revisions containing libelous content should also be [[WP:RevDel|removed from the page history]]. Libelous material (otherwise known as defamation) is reasonably likely to damage a person or company's reputation and could expose Wikipedia to legal consequences.

==Subject guidelines==

If you believe that you are the subject of a libellous statement on Wikipedia, please:

==Contact instructions for subjects of libel==

* '''[mailto:[e-mail] E-mail the info team]''' with details of the article and error.

If you believe that you are the subject of a libelous statement on Wikipedia, please send an email to [mailto:%69%6e%66%6f%2d%65%6e%2d%71%40%77%69%6b%69%70%65%64%69%61%2e%6f%72%67 {{nospam|info-en-q|wikipedia.org}}] with details of the article and situation.

</div>

==See also==

===Policies===

* [[Wikipedia:Contact us]]

*[[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons]]

* [[Slander and libel]]

* [[Wikipedia:Biographies ofNo livinglegal personsthreats]]

* [[Wikipedia:legal disclaimer|Wikipedia does not giveNo legalpersonal adviceattacks]]

===Other related pages===

* [[Wikipedia:Contact us]]

*[[Wikipedia:Legal disclaimer|Wikipedia does not give legal advice]]

*[[Wikipedia:An article about yourself isn't necessarily a good thing]]

==References==

{{Reflist|refs=

<!-- Order refs by Author, published, publisher -->

<ref name="Wales_2006-05-16_WikiEN-l">{{cite web

| url = http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2006-May/046440.html

| title = [WikiEN-l] Zero information is preferred to misleading or false information

| last = Wales

| first = Jimmy

| authorlink = Jimmy Wales

| work = lists.wikimedia.org

| publisher = WikiEN-l

| date = 2006-05-16

| accessdate = 2019-07-17

| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110406110126/http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2006-May/046440.html

| archivedate = 2011-04-06

| url-status = live

| quote = It should be removed, aggressively, unless it can be sourced. This is true of all information, but it is particularly true of negative information about living persons...This is not a policy statement, just a statement of attitude and frustration.

}}</ref>

}}

==External links==

{{Update section|date=November 2024|reason=most resources in this section have not been updated in over a decade or two}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081010222530/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetworkcollective/A1183394 How to avoid libel and defamation] (The2004)—Information from the [[BBC]] viewpointfor contributors to its defunct community website, ''Action Network'', based on Britishthe libelEnglish law, of libel (which differs considerably from USU.S. law.).

* [http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1219/p02s01-usju.htmhtml "Once it's on the Web, whose law applies?"] (2002) from [[CSMonitor]]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150215035831/http://www.internetpolicy.net/jurisdiction/ Internet policy -– Jurisdiction] (2002) by the [[Center for Democracy & Technology]] (CDT)

* [http://indigo.ie/~kwood/defamation.htm Defamation law in Ireland]

* [httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20140124073645/http://chillingeffects.org/defamation/faq.cgi Defamation FAQ at Chilling Effects Clearinghouse] (2002) at the [[University of San Francisco]]

* [http://news.com.com/Is+Wikipedia+safe+from+libel+liability/2100-1025_3-5984880.html?tag=nefd.lede "Is Wikipedia safe from libel liability?" by Daniel Terdiman] (from CNET)

* [https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/FS_Reputation_ENG.pdf "Protection of Reputation" Factsheet] (March 2024) by [[European Court of Human Rights|European Court on Human Rights]]

* [http://www.law.buffalo.edu/Academics/courses/629/computer_law_policy_articles/CompLawPapers/holland.htm Libel on the Internet: An International Problem]

* [http://www.chillingeffects.org/defamation/faq.cgi Defamation FAQ at Chilling Effects Clearinghouse]

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[[Category:Wikipedia legal policies]]

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