Are You Liable for the Things You Post Online?

The popularity of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram has far outpaced the laws that govern activities on such platforms. While they are popular platforms for communication and new updates, there are plenty of irresponsible internet users who post fake news and troll other users. The online world is a safe haven for both free speech and mean-spirited users. But beware, as you can get into trouble for the things you put up online.

When it comes to business, companies like to have control over the brand’s image and all associated communications. But, the web is an open space and it can be difficult to control everything. This does not mean letting use. Companies can still hold internet users liable for the things they post online to a certain extent. For instance, you can control how your employees interact or speak of your brand on social media by having set social media policies. Let’s look at a few scenarios here;

(i) Spreading fake news

Internet rumors are common in the virtual world. On several multi-category forum websites, many netizens post unconfirmed news as if they were real, often creating chaos and panic. Anyone could become a victim of such widespread malpractice.

The Hong Kong government abolished the “fake news crime” in the 1980s with respect to human rights. According to common law, unless it involves defamation or is restricted by specific written law (such as bomb hoaxes under the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245) and certain other violations of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)), spreading rumors does not incur criminal liability.

In 2014, a netizen uploaded a post on an online forum that contained a bomb threat on the Hong Kong Liaison Office along with a racist historic reference. On appeal, he was ruled innocent by the court. They ruled his online speech was not an outrage of public decency as this common–law offense requires a physical location. Freedom of expression, ironically including the spread of fake rumors, is guaranteed by the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance.

However, it is also over-simplistic to think that you will never be charged for spreading fake news on the internet. If the spread of fake news involves defamation or other crimes –such as the exposure of personal data– you could be liable for other offenses that you post online.

(ii) Defamation

Any person who makes known to at least one other person or the public a defamatory remark regarding another person or organization in writing can be liable for libel. The words or statements are defamatory if ordinary people using general knowledge and common sense would deem them as damaging to a person’s reputation. Defamatory words or statements should also be directed at a particular person or organization. According to the Defamation Ordinance (Cap. 21), any person guilty of libel can be liable for things you post online to imprisonment for two years in addition to a fine ordered by the court.

Proving elements of online defamation is not as easy as it looks. It is also equally expensive. However, victims of defamation can apply to the court to request the relevant discussion forum to provide the personal data of the writer of the post to aid the litigation.

(iii) Intrusion of privacy

Nowadays, it is common to see internet users track down and reveal individuals’ personal data to shame them publicly. Such invasions of privacy can contravene the provisions set out in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) (“PDPO”). As far as personal data privacy is concerned, internet users must comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Principles under the PDPO:

• Principle 1 (collection purpose and means) – personal data shall only be collected for a lawful purpose directly related to a function or activity of the data user. The data collected should be necessary and adequate but not excessive for such a purpose. The means of collection should be lawful and fair.
• Principle 3 (use) – personal data shall not be used for any new purpose which is not or is unrelated to the original purpose when the data was collected, unless with the data subject’s express and voluntary consent.

With these two principles in mind, online disclosures of individuals’ information with the intention to expose their personal lives is clearly a violation of the PDPO. There are common misunderstandings among members of the public that the personal data of an individual obtainable in public domains such as public registries and search engines can be further used for whatever purpose without limitation. However, such use of data already exceeds proper use according to Principle 3. Privacy policies also greatly help to explain what and how the information will be used.

(iv) Incitement of crime

Some may think that posting on the internet to incite others to break the law is not illegal as they practically ‘did nothing. This idea is absolutely wrong and dangerous. According to Article 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) (“CPO”), anyone who assists, abets, counsels or urges another person to commit any crime is guilty of the same crime. In addition, according to common law principles, inciting others to commit any substantive crime is also an offense itself. Section 101I of the CPO stipulates that anyone who is found to incite others to commit a crime can be sentenced to the maximum penalty for that crime. In other words, the penalty for inciting the offender is the same as actually committing it. For example, if you are suspected of inciting others to set a fire, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. Therefore, encouraging other internet users to violate the law is as risky as if you lit the match.

To Wrap Up

Under the existing legal framework, most of the laws in the real world are also applicable to the online world and the police can enforce the law with the relevant legislation. With internet crimes on the rise, it is reasonable to expect that law enforcement agencies will devote more resources to address for the liable things you post online. As a general rule,  you should think twice before leaving it out there on the web or social media.