Wikipedia:Libel
 | This page documents a Wikipedia policy with legal considerations. This page is also a Wikimedia Foundation policy, established by Jimmy Wales and endorsed by the Foundation as necessary for the operation of the sites under its jurisdiction. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Delete libelous material when it has been identified. |
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.[1] [better source needed]
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 E-mail to [email protected] with details of the article and situation.
See also
Policies
Other related pages
References
- ^ Wales, Jimmy (2006-05-16). "[WikiEN-l] Zero information is preferred to misleading or false information". lists.wikimedia.org. WikiEN-l. Archived from the original on 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
It should be removed, aggressively, unless it can be sourced. This is true of all information, but it is particularly true of negative information about living persons...This is not a policy statement, just a statement of attitude and frustration.
External links
 | Parts of this Wikipedia page (those related to this section) need to be updated. The reason given is: most resources in this section have not been updated in over a decade or two. Please help update this Wikipedia page to reflect recent events or newly available information. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. (November 2024) |
- 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