Social media , Google, and the growing presence on the Internet have brought great benefits, but also drawbacks. Cases of slander, defamation, fraud, and identity theft are a growing problem online. Therefore, it is essential to protect yourself and even take legal action when necessary.
In fact, this last point leads us to the next question: Can you sue someone for speaking ill of you? Is it possible to sue for defamation and slander even if the attack is online?
Here we explain what digital violence is and whether it’s possible to sue someone for moral damages over the Internet.
What is digital violence? Is it considered a crime in Mexico?
Defamation, slander, and online libel are forms of violence that involve the use of media such as social media, websites, and other online platforms to damage the reputation of a person or entity through false or malicious statements.
- Defamation: Occurs when false statements that damage a person’s reputation are publicly disseminated.
- Slander: Falsely accusing someone of having committed a crime, knowing it to be a lie, which can cause discredit and damage to the affected person’s personal or professional life.
- Insults: Refers to offenses or insults that attack a person’s dignity.
Is it considered a crime in Mexico?
Yes, defamation, slander, and libel are crimes in Mexico, included in the penal codes of several states. Although in some states these acts have been decriminalized and are treated as civil offenses, in others they are considered criminal offenses.
Report for defamation
Defamation, on the other hand, consists of the dissemination of false information that damages a person’s reputation, honor, or dignity. Unlike slander, which involves falsely accusing someone of committing a crime, defamation does not necessarily involve a crime, but rather false statements that affect a person’s image in the eyes of others.
Report for slander
Slander in Mexico refers to when a person damages the dignity, honor, or reputation of another by publishing false information. This constitutes a crime against honor. Therefore, those who faithfully reproduce information from the media and cite the source are exempt from liability for damages.
In the past, crimes such as slander, defamation, and libel not only affected the right to freedom of expression and thought, protected by Articles 6 and 7 of the Constitution , but also became common tools used to intimidate journalists and communicators, who faced threats in their work.
Since 2007, the Federal Penal Code has eliminated the criminalization of these crimes against honor , repeating Articles 350 to 363. However, provisions related to the reparation of moral damages have been implemented in Articles 1916 and 1916 bis of the Federal Civil Code .
What to do about defamation and slander on the Internet?
In the digital context, defamation and slander are serious problems that affect the reputation of individuals and companies. Due to the nature of the internet, these acts can spread rapidly, negatively impacting both personal and professional lives.
In this situation, it is possible to report these acts, but there are also specialized services that are responsible for removing negative, false, or compromising content from the Internet.
Our services, in fact, include online reputation management and the removal of negative content and reviews through the use of legal tools that guarantee the protection of user privacy rights.
What to do in case of defamation or slander on the Internet?
If you have been a victim or someone close to you have been, do the following to gather the necessary evidence:
- If the post is yours, don’t delete any posts where you were attacked. Take screenshots of everything and organize a folder with evidence. If the post is someone else’s, do the same.
- It also records the URL , along with the date and time of the post.
- File a complaint against whoever is responsible with the Public Prosecutor’s Office .
- It is advisable to have an attorney specializing in digital law and defamation to proceed correctly.
- Each platform, such as Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, or Twitter , offers options for reporting offensive posts. When doing so, you can specify the reason, such as nudity, spam, violence, harassment, hate speech, among others.
However, since these platforms receive thousands of reports daily, many of them false, the algorithms take time to resolve cases, which prolongs the response time.
Remember:
- Defamation is a crime that must be prosecuted, whether online or offline. On social media, the viral effect can seriously affect a person.
- The term doxing is used when someone is attacked in order to humiliate or defame them using technology.
We help you remove content from the Internet
If your case warrants a specialized service for removing content from the Internet, Mejor Imagen can help you with first-hand online reputation management.
We employ legal methods backed by extensive experience in image investigation, allowing us to accurately identify, analyze, and resolve cases involving the misuse or improper dissemination of visual content.
We are here to help you:
If someone speaks badly about me, can I report them?
Yes, if someone is speaking ill of you and those statements damage your reputation or falsely accuse you of a crime, you can file a complaint. In Mexico, although defamation and slander have been decriminalized in some states, they are still considered civil offenses. This means you can file a lawsuit for moral damages, under the Federal Civil Code (Articles 1916 and 1916 bis), to demand financial compensation for damages to your honor and reputation.
It’s a good idea to keep evidence of what was said, such as screenshots, dates, URLs, and any other relevant information that supports your case. It’s also advisable to have an attorney specializing in these matters guide you through the process.
Is it possible to remove content that defames or slanders me from the Internet?
Yes, it is possible to remove content that defames or slanders you from the internet using specialized services like those offered by Mejor Imagen. These services are designed to help you manage and protect your online reputation by removing negative or malicious content, whether on social media, blogs, forums, or any other digital platform.