Slander

What is slander? 

Slander is the act of spreading false information verbally about a person or business with the intent to harm their reputation. 

Victims of slander can sue the offender in civil court. To win the case, they must prove that the statements made are indeed slanderous. 

Slander is often compared to libel. The main difference is that slander refers to spoken defamation, while libel is written defamation. 

Slander Explained 

Although freedom of speech is a basic right, it has its limits. Making false statements about someone is one of those limitations. 

Slander involves any form of spoken communication that defames another person. To qualify as slander, the statement must be presented as a fact to a third party and cause damage to the person's reputation or livelihood. 

There are consequences for making knowingly false statements. Defamation is covered by tort law, which handles civil disputes. Victims of slander can take their case to civil court. If found guilty, the offender may be required to pay damages to the victim.