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    Module 5: Defamation

    Summary Modules on Digital Rights and Freedom of Expression Online in sub-Saharan Africa

    • Defamation claims are frequently used to stifle dissent. However, it can provide a genuine remedy for those harmed by the statements or actions of others.
    • Criminal defamation is generally considered to be disproportionate in terms of international law. Civil defamation is often punished too harshly, rather than righting the wrong that was committed.
    • Truth is a core defence against defamation claims.
    • Some types of speech are excluded from defamation laws, such as opinion and satire.
    • The growth of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suits by corporate actors using defamation laws to silence or intimidate critics is a concerning contemporary development that needs to be challenged.
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