Can things posted on internet blogs be considered libel or slander?

Libel is the written form of defamation while slander is the spoken form. Both are defamation but the difference is in how the message is communicated to third parties. If a statement is not spoken or written such as a photograph, then the statement would be considered libel.

Since internet blogs are typically written and people read them, content posted on them would be considered libel instead of slander. If the blog was not written but merely recorded and people had to listen to it, then defamatory statements contained there would be slander. If a blog posted a video with defamatory statements, then the defamation would be considered slander.

Just because a statement that upsets you is posted on an internet blog does not mean that you are a victim of defamation. If the statement is true or clearly just an opinion, you will not have a leg to stand on if you attempt legal action. Furthermore, you can not sue an internet provider for defamation under the Communications Decency Act of 1996 if you do not say anything to the provider about the alleged defamatory statement. Nor can you sue the ISP if the website took down the statement after being informed about the defamatory content.

You will also have very limited recourse if you are a public official or public figure since you are newsworthy, put yourself in the spotlight and have wide media access to refute offensive statements. Private figures do not.