Defamation, a legal concept, involves an untrue statement that harms another person’s reputation. For example, falsely accusing someone of a crime that leads to job loss could be a case of defamation. This concept aims to protect individuals from reputational damage caused by false statements.
Protecting individual reputation is crucial for maintaining social order and trust. Historically, laws addressing false statements have existed to safeguard individuals and communities from the destructive impact of misinformation. These legal frameworks aim to balance free speech with the need to prevent unwarranted harm to individuals’ reputations.