Can I sue for defamation over a negative Google or Facebook review?

Negative online reviews are a daily reality for Gold Coast businesses. Most are honest feedback that, even if unfair, does not cross the legal line into defamation. But some reviews are false, malicious, or authored by competitors rather than genuine customers. Knowing the difference matters.

When Is a Review Defamatory?

A review is potentially defamatory when it:

1. Contains false statements of fact — not just a harsh opinion
2. Identifies your business or you personally — which is almost always the case on a business review platform
3. Has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your business reputation

The Critical Distinction: Opinion vs. Fact

“The client could say the tradie didn’t turn up on time, gave me a quote for $400 and charged $1,000, and the railing fell off, that would be a bad review, but it would be an honest one. But if they say ’this person is a fraudster’ — that’s where it could become defamation.” — Andrew Bell, Legal Matters, 4CRB, 17 March 2026

What About Fake Reviews?

A review left by someone who was never actually a customer — including a competitor, a disgruntled former employee, or someone acting on another’s behalf, may be defamatory if it makes false statements of fact. The reviewer’s identity may not immediately be apparent, but:

• Google and Facebook can be required under court order to disclose the identity of anonymous reviewers in appropriate circumstances.
• Reviews posted from accounts with no local history or review patterns are increasingly flagged and removed by platforms.

Getting a Review Removed, Your Options

Option 1: Platform Reporting

Google, Facebook, and Yelp all have processes for reporting reviews that violate their policies (including fake or defamatory reviews). This is free and sometimes effective, particularly where the content clearly violates platform terms.

Option 2: Legal Demands Letter (Concerns Notice)

A formal concerns notice from a defamation lawyer sent to the reviewer (once identified) often results in removal and a retraction, without any court proceedings. Many reviewers posting false content do not want to litigate a defamation claim.

Option 3: Court Proceedings

If a reviewer refuses to remove false content, a court can:

• Grant an injunction requiring removal
• Order damages for harm caused
• Order a correction or apology

Does the Platform (Google, Facebook) Have Liability?

Under Australian law, platforms that host defamatory content can themselves be publishers of that content once they are notified and fail to remove it. The High Court’s decision in Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller (2021)¹ confirmed that page administrators (including businesses and media organisations running Facebook pages) can be liable as publishers of comments left on their pages.

This means: if someone posts defamatory content on your business’s own Facebook page, you should moderate and remove it promptly.

Time Limits

Defamation claims must generally be commenced within 1 year of publication.² For online content that remains live, time runs from the date the publication was first made, not from when you discovered it.

If you are aware of a defamatory review, do not delay getting legal advice.

Related Topics

• The Complete Guide to Defamation Law in Queensland

• What is defamation in Queensland?

• Defamation defences

• Defamation damages and compensation

• Received a defamation concerns notice?

Got a Damaging Review That’s Costing You Business?

Bell & Senior Lawyers advises Gold Coast businesses and professionals on defamatory online content. We can assess whether a review crosses the legal line, and advise on the fastest route to getting it removed.

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