Natasha is a university student with big ambitions and a healthy sense of self who longs to have an impact on the world. In addition to her university studies, she is also trying to be a social media influencer. She has all the latest social media applications and accounts and records many Tik-tok videos wherein she shares her opinions about various things in the naïve belief that her opinions matter to other people. She currently has twelve loyal and devoted followers. Over the course of a week, Natasha posted several TikTok videos to her account in which she told her viewers what she thought. In particular, she said the following: 

a) Harvey Weinstein [search his name if you do not know who he is] is a sexual predator and she hopes that he will never be released from prison. 

 b) Fendi has really dropped the ball in its manufacturing of high-end fashion items. The quality of its products is noticeably inferior compared to its competitors. Further, it uses sweatshop labor and pays its workers very little. She recommended that her followers avoid buying Fendi products. All these statements are false. The last Black Panther movie, starring Chadwick Boseman, was excellent but it had terrible sound editing.

d)  The Calgary Flames is a terrible hockey team and pays its players far more than they are worth.

e)  Rogers Wireless (a Canadian corporation) charges too much money for its wireless services, provides poor coverage, and is too powerful for the good of Canadians.

f)  Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has a rather partisan and uninformed view of the government's role in controlling the spread of COVID.

After learning that you have taken the world-famous Business Law class in the Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge, Natasha has come to you for advice. One of her followers suggested that she might want to dial down her opinions in her TikTok videos as she might get in trouble.

Please advise Natasha as to following:

a)  What is defamation?

b)  Regarding the six statements noted above, does Natasha have

potential liability for defamation for any of the statements? If so, for

which statements and why?

c)  For which statements does Natasha not have potential liability for

defamation and why not?

d)  What advice would you offer Natasha moving forward?

Note: The foregoing six statements may test different legal principles regarding defamation. Analyze them carefully and apply relevant case law.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

a What is defamation Defamation refers to the communication of a false statement that damages a persons reputation This can be through spoken words sl... View the full answer