Slander - Before You Pay A Lawyer Please Read This
Can you sue Google for Slander?
The question above can be categorized as one of those "if I only had a dime for every time I was asked" questions. As Google has grown in size and power on the internet so have the many misuses of its search engine capabilities.
Here is the major problem with a site like Google, the only content that they will actual monitor are porn sites and terrorist hubs, other than that everything else is allowed without question. Another problem many people are now experiencing with Google is that the site has become sort of an unregulated verification service.
Unregulated in the sense that anyone can publish anything, about anybody and Google will index it. I am sure you can see how this could be very problematic. If you are a business owner of a coffee shop and some guy decides to go on a post blitz on Google all because you screwed up his latte', your reputation is in fact doomed.
So before you run off and pay some lawyer guy hundreds or even thousands of dollars please allow me to inform you of something that he will not tell you until after he deposits your check, you can't sue Google. You simply can't do it, no matter how false and erroneous the content, you cannot sue Google.
Blame it on Bill Clinton
The Great Bill Clinton may have presided over the most powerful US Economy since the WWII, but this signing of The Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA) could be one of the worst forms of legislation ever signed into Law. Here is why this could be one of the worst Acts ever, section 230!
Section 230 basically says that you cannot sue a site like Google for any content posted by a 3rd party.
Section 230 of the (CDA) provides protection for online service providers and users from action against them for the actions of others, stating in part that "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider".
Effectively, this section immunizes ISPs and other service providers from torts committed by users over their systems, even if the provider fails to take action after actual notice. As a result of the Seigenthaler incident, and other incidents where individuals have been allegedly libeled by anonymous or judgment-proof parties, this section of the Act has come under fire, with numerous calls for revisions to the Act to restore service provider liability in some cases.
Guilty as Charged!
Some websites like Rip off Report and Complaints Board have exploited and corrupted Section 230 in order to profit from consumer complaints. Google has basically crawled in bed with slanderous sites like Rip off Report claiming to only be a public forum while at the same time placing their Google Adsense Ads on every false claim submitted.
And if that wasn't slimy enough the Rip off Report will allow a false claim to be published about a business on their website and then contact that company with an offer to remove the claim for a small fee off $3500!
In a recent interview with Tyronne Jacques, an expert in Reputation Management and Brand Development he informed us that the number one form of attack is not posted by consumers, but rather by one business trying to gain a competitive edge on a local business.
"Sites like Google have recreated the Wild Wild West over the internet; the only unfortunate part is there isn't a Wyatt Earp to protect innocent business owners."
We can only hope that under this current Presidential Administration we will to see reform to Section 230 allowing libel lawsuits against companies like Google and Rip off Report.
I can accept Google operating as a sort of archive system if they would only removed themselves from any type of monetary gain or profits made from Pay Per Click ads placed on false claims. Practices like placing ads on slanderous sites generate truck loads of profits for Google, no wonder their stock price is in the upper echelons of the markets.
The Verdict
Despite the fact that you cannot sue Google for content published on their search engine, you do have the right to remove negative items from the 1st page of your search results. I found a great product called Eraser Max 5.0 which can help you remove false claim posted under your search results without costing you $3500, if fact it will cost you only $19.95.
by: Tyronne Jacques
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