Defamation Laws
Belgium Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In Belgium defamation is both criminal and civil. Penal Code arts 443 to 453 punish calomnie and diffamation; Civil Code art 1382 allows damages.
8 min read
Loading...
All Articles
Browse our full library of legal guides, state law breakdowns, and practical legal information.
5300 articles
Browse by Category →
Defamation Laws
Austria Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In Austria defamation is both criminal and civil. StGB sections 111, 115 and 297 create the offences; ABGB 1330 and the Media Act allow damages.
8 min read
Defamation Laws
Argentina Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Argentina defamation is civil and criminal, but since Law 26.551 (2009) calumnia and injurias carry fines only, never prison, not for public matters.
7 min read
Defamation Laws
Spain Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Spain treats defamation as both a crime (calumnia and injurias in the Penal Code) and a civil wrong under Organic Law 1/1982 on honour.
7 min read
Defamation Laws
South Africa Defamation Laws: Civil & Defences
Defamation in South Africa is now a civil delict only. Parliament abolished the common-law crime of defamation in 2024. Defences, damages and how to sue.
7 min read
Defamation Laws
Singapore Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Defamation in Singapore is both civil (Defamation Act 1957) and criminal (Penal Code 499/500, up to 2 years), with online falsehoods under POFMA 2019.
8 min read
Defamation Laws
Philippines Defamation Laws: Libel & Cyber Libel
The Philippines treats defamation as both a crime (libel, Revised Penal Code) and a civil wrong, with cyber libel under RA 10175 carrying higher penalties.
8 min read
Defamation Laws
Pakistan Defamation Laws: Civil & Criminal
Defamation in Pakistan is both civil (Defamation Ordinance 2002, Punjab Act 2024) and criminal (Penal Code 499/500), with online liability under PECA.
8 min read
Defamation Laws
Nigeria Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Defamation in Nigeria is both a civil tort and a crime. Criminal Code s.375, northern Penal Code s.392, Cybercrimes Act s.24 online. Defences and remedies.
8 min read
Defamation Laws
New Zealand Defamation Laws: Civil & Defences
Defamation in New Zealand is a civil wrong only under the Defamation Act 1992. Criminal defamation was abolished. Defences, remedies and the 2-year limit.
7 min read
Defamation Laws
Netherlands Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
In the Netherlands defamation is both criminal and civil. The Criminal Code punishes smaad, laster, and belediging; tort law allows damages.
8 min read
Defamation Laws
Mexico Defamation Laws: Civil, Criminal & Defences
Mexico decriminalised defamation federally in 2007; it is mainly a civil matter (Federal Civil Code arts 1916, 1916 Bis), but some states still treat it as a
7 min read