Consequences Of Posting Fake Reviews

Online Identity (IDs): Legit Or Fake

False identification documents, or fake IDs, have been around for long sometimes. Having the
proper identification allows you any number of privileges, from obtaining alcohol, to renting an
accomodation and for the online world, it means dropping reviews, chat comments and many
more.

With the widespread use of false identity online to malign an organization, presenting false
credentials, things were going out of hand. As such many laws are present in every country to
stop them. The crime is categorized differently from state to state.
 Real ID, Wrong Person

Cyber police under false identification laws also penalize people who use a real ID, even though
that ID isn’t their own.

For example, a college student might borrow a friend’s ID in order to get access to certain
portals or confidential matters, along with providing reviews and data on friends or any
imaginary identity’s behalf.

Specifically in the online world, fake identities have led many to pay huge penalties of the
organization towards which the libel was directed took up the case proactively.

If you provide fictitious details of yours or use a language that is offensive, one may land in
trouble.
The offensive language often may be in the territory of

“ Threatening someone”

“ Defaming someone or some organization”

“ Providing false information about an individual , group or organization”

“Using language that may be lowering the dignity of an individual, organization or community”.
 Online Defamation

Defamation is a statement that has been published publicly and is unprivileged, false and
insulting. When defamation is done online through written language, it is called libel.

One can be sued for libel, leading to penalties of high amount.

Online defamation covers anything and everything posted on reviews, communication through
social media, website comments, chat discussions, blogs and more.
A hearing from a court case….

“A statement that the plaintiff is a “Dumb Ass,” even first among “Dumb Asses,” communicates
no factual proposition susceptible of proof or refutation. It is true that “dumb” by itself can
convey the relatively concrete meaning “lacking in intelligence.” Even so, depending on
context, it may convey a lack less of objectively assayable mental function than of such
imponderable and debatable virtues as judgment or wisdom.

Here defendant did not use “dumb” in isolation, but as part of the idiomatic phrase, “dumb ass.”
When applied to a whole human being, the term “ass” is a general expression of contempt
essentially devoid of factual content. Adding the word “dumb” merely converts “contemptible
person” to “contemptible fool.” Plaintiffs were justifiably insulted by this epithet….”
It is important to know the language one can use online on review forums, online discussions
and others.

A simple word like “Scamster, Fake or Bullshit” put by someone may be found worth penalizing
if the other party raises questions and the slander is not validated. It variably falls within the
clause “dignity of a person, community, individual or organization”.

The reach of cybercrime has increased and so has its vigilance, now defining everything that can
be considered as slander.
 If I Write Something Defamatory, Will A Retraction Help?

Some jurisdictions have retraction statutes that provide protection from defamation lawsuits if
the publisher retracts the allegedly defamatory statement. For example, in California, a plaintiff
who fails to demand a retraction of a statement made in a newspaper or radio or television
broadcast, or who demands and receives a retraction, is limited to getting “special damages”—
the specific monetary losses caused by the libelous speech.

While few courts have addressed retraction statutes with regard to online publications, a Georgia
court denied punitive damages based on the plaintiff’s failure to request a retraction for
something posted on an Internet bulletin board. (See Mathis v. Cannon)”

If one has written something defamatory on reviews, posted discussions or bulletins, they can
talk with the administrator to remove the post.”
 References

• Libel Electronic Frontiers

• Europol and Defamation

• Legal Encyclopedia

• Cyber police and libel

• Europol and Identity theft.

• Police and Fake Identity