What is the purpose of the defamation law?

The purpose of defamation law is to balance the protection of an individual's or an organization's reputation with the fundamental right to freedom of expression. Defamation laws exist to provide individuals with a means to seek redress when false statements that damage their reputation are published or spoken. This legal framework allows for a careful consideration of both sides: the need to protect reputations from false harm and the importance of allowing open discourse and the sharing of ideas.

In practice, these laws aim to ensure that people can express their thoughts and opinions freely while still holding individuals accountable for false declarations that can lead to reputational harm. It is this balance that helps facilitate a healthy democratic exchange of views while maintaining respect for individuals' reputations.