Encyclopedia:Libel

Template:Pp-semi-indef Template:Short description Template:Legal policy Template:Nutshell Template:Wiktionary Template:Legal policy list The goal of Wikipedia is to create an encyclopedic information source adhering to a neutral point of view, with referenced information through the citation of reliable published sources, so as to maintain a standard of verifiability.<ref name="Wales_2006-05-16_WikiEN-l" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It is the responsibility of all contributors to ensure that the material posted on Wikipedia is not defamatory.

It is a Wikipedia policy to immediately delete libelous material when it has been identified. Page revisions containing libelous content should also be removed from the page history. Libelous material (otherwise known as defamation) is reasonably likely to damage a person or company's reputation and could expose Wikipedia to legal consequences.

Contact instructions for subjects of libel

If you believe that you are the subject of a libelous statement on Wikipedia, please:

• Send an email to info-en-q@wikipedia.org with details of the article and situation.

See also

Policies

• Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons
• Wikipedia:No legal threats
• Wikipedia:No personal attacks

Other related pages

• Wikipedia:Contact us
• Wikipedia does not give legal advice
• Wikipedia:An article about yourself isn't necessarily a good thing

External links

• How to avoid libel and defamation (2004)—Information from the BBC for contributors to its defunct community website, Action Network, based on the English law of libel (which differs considerably from U.S. law).
• "Once it's on the Web, whose law applies?" (2002) from CSMonitor
• Internet policy – Jurisdiction (2002) by the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT)
• Defamation FAQ at Chilling Effects Clearinghouse (2002) at the University of San Francisco
• "Protection of Reputation" Factsheet (March 2024) by European Court on Human Rights