Celebrities hit back at social media trolls with defamation suits to safeguard their reputations

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Celebrities are increasingly considering filing suits against media platforms that carry defamatory content by trolls, having become more cognisant of the damage that can be caused as the dissemination and consumption of content on the Internet surges.

Music composer AR Rahman recently threatened online portals with defamation suits for carrying harmful content related to his divorce, on the heels of actors Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar taking on YouTube channels for content against them. Legal experts said the institution of defamation claims remains a viable tool for celebrities wanting to protect their image.

“In India, celebrities increasingly resort to filing defamation suits against media outlets, including traditional media houses and social media platforms. This trend has been significantly amplified with the proliferation of social media exposure where unverified content spreads rapidly, often bypassing editorial scrutiny," said Kailash Lad, partner at legal firm Little & Co.

“Given the fascination of people at large, which is more often coupled with curiosity to know all about the personal lives of celebrities, they are particularly vulnerable to defamatory content that can harm their reputation." Defamatory reportage has surged with the proliferation of social media, Lad agreed. Social media platforms enable instantaneous content dissemination without the checks and balances of traditional media.

The anonymity provided by social media exacerbates the issue. Sudeshna Guha Roy, a partner for commercial disputes and arbitration at Saraf and Partners, pointed out that in the past, instances of celebrities who have taken on traditional and social media include Kareena Kapoor