The Real Gossip Girl in Court

Lessons from the Wagatha Christie trial regarding the legal consequences of posting on social media

Abstract

The Wagatha Christie case is the latest emblematic piece of English defamation law. The difficulties of proof have raised some of the legal problems of electronic comments. The extremely heterogeneous user base of social media is not to be confused with the average reader of the traditional press. The courts recognise that the use of platforms has created different reading habits and this may have different legal consequences. However, the legal liability of lay producers of public content is uncertain. Typically, such problems are the relationship between influencers who use online platforms for commercial marketing purposes and public appearances, and the legal assessment of content that concerns the debate of public affairs.