Defamation in the Age of Social Media
A single post can reach thousands of Gold Coast residents in hours. Whether it is a fake review destroying your star rating, a Facebook group post making false allegations, or an anonymous account spreading harmful content, the legal remedy is defamation law, and it applies fully to online content.
Bell & Senior Lawyers regularly acts for Gold Coast individuals and businesses dealing with online reputational attacks. Our goal is always fast, practical resolution, starting with removal of the content.
Our Online Defamation Services
- Google Review Disputes: Assessing whether a review is defamatory and pursuing removal through formal legal demands or court orders, without necessarily needing to go to trial.
- Facebook & Instagram Posts: Including posts in closed or private groups, which Australian courts have confirmed are defamatory publications when they contain false content causing serious harm.
- Anonymous Publisher Identification: Obtaining Norwich Pharmacal court orders requiring Google, Facebook, or internet service providers to disclose the identity of anonymous or pseudonymous posters.
- Competitor Defamation: Where false reviews or posts have been made by a competitor or former employee to damage your business, we advise on defamation and Australian Consumer Law remedies concurrently.
- Urgent Injunctions: Applying to the court for orders requiring immediate removal of defamatory content where ongoing publication is causing active harm.
- Platform Liability Advice: If defamatory content is posted on your own business page, you may be a “publisher” and need to act quickly, we advise page administrators on their obligations.