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Defending Against Libel and Defamation Claims as a Website Owner

Learn about libel and defamation claims as a website owner — explore the laws surrounding these issues and get insight on ways to monitor AI content to avoid potential issues.

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Introduction

Our text compare tool is a fantastic, lightweight tool that provides plagiarism checks between two documents. Whether you are a student, blogger or publisher, this tool offers a great solution to detect and compare similarities between any two pieces of text. In this article, I will discuss the different ways to use the tool, the primary features of the tool and who this tool is for. There is an FAQ at the bottom if you run into any issues when trying to use the tool.

What makes Originality.ai’s text comparison tool stand out?

Keyword density helper – This tool comes with a built-in keyword density helper in some ways similar to the likes of SurferSEO or MarketMuse the difference being, ours is free! This feature shows the user the frequency of single or two word keywords in a document, meaning you can easily compare an article you have written against a competitor to see the major differences in keyword densities. This is especially useful for SEO’s who are looking to optimize their blog content for search engines and improve the blog’s visibility.

Ways to compare

File compare – Text comparison between files is a breeze with our tool. Simply select the files you would like to compare, hit “Upload” and our tool will automatically insert the content into the text area, then simply hit “Compare” and let our tool show you where the differences in the text are. By uploading a file, you can still check the keyword density in your content.

URL compare

Comparing text between URLs is effortless with our tool. Simply paste the URL you would like to get the content from (in our example we use a fantastic blog post by Sherice Jacob found here) hit “Submit URL” and our tool will automatically retrieve the contents of the page and paste it into the text area, then simply click “Compare” and let our tool highlight the difference between the URLs. This feature is especially useful for checking keyword density between pages!

Simple text compare

You can also easily compare text by copying and pasting it into each field, as demonstrated below.

Features of Originality.ai’s Text Compare Tool

Ease of use

Our text compare tool is created with the user in mind, it is designed to be accessible to everyone. Our tool allows users to upload files or enter a URL to extract text, this along with the lightweight design ensures a seamless experience. The interface is simple and straightforward, making it easy for users to compare text and detect the diff.

Multiple text file format support

Our tool provides support for a variety of different text files and microsoft word formats including pdf file, .docx, .odt, .doc, and .txt, giving users the ability to compare text from different sources with ease. This makes it a great solution for students, bloggers, and publishers who are looking for file comparison in different formats.

Protects intellectual property

Our text comparison tool helps you protect your intellectual property and helps prevent plagiarism. This tool provides an accurate comparison of texts, making it easy to ensure that your work is original and not copied from other sources. Our tool is a valuable resource for anyone looking to maintain the originality of their content.

User Data Privacy

Our text compare tool is secure and protects user data privacy. No data is ever saved to the tool, the users’ text is only scanned and pasted into the tool’s text area. This makes certain that users can use our tool with confidence, knowing their data is safe and secure.

Compatibility

Our text comparison tool is designed to work seamlessly across all size devices, ensuring maximum compatibility no matter your screen size. Whether you are using a large desktop monitor, a small laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, this tool adjusts to your screen size. This means that users can compare texts and detect the diff anywhere without the need for specialized hardware or software. This level of accessibility makes it an ideal solution for students or bloggers who value the originality of their work and need to compare text online anywhere at any time.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Don’t use it in place of professional legal advice. Since laws vary by region and industry, contact a lawyer for legal advice for your unique situation.

As a website owner, defending against claims of libel and defamation is something that it’s important to take seriously.

Learn about defending against libel and defamation claims as a website owner — explore the laws surrounding these issues, how they apply to website content, and ways to monitor AI content to avoid defamation and libel. Then, find an overview of common legal defenses for libel and defamation claims.

What Are Libel and Defamation — How Do They Apply to Website Content?

Defamation occurs when an individual makes false statements that are damaging to someone else’s reputation. If these statements are verbal, then they’re slander. And if written, they’re libel.

According to the Legal Information Institute, there are four essential elements to a defamation case:

  1. A false statement that is presented as fact.
  2. Publication of that statement to an individual or group.
  3. A statement that was made maliciously or at least negligently.
  4. Publication of the false statement harmed the subject’s reputation.

If false, harmful statements are said in a video post, that would be slander. However, if they’re written on your website, then they’re considered accusations of defamation and libel. 

Further, if they take place on the internet, they’re online defamation and cyber-libel.

What if You Didn’t Write the Defamatory Statement on Your Website?

If you didn’t create and publish the allegedly defamatory comment on your website, who is at fault? It depends on the situation.

User-Generated Content (UGC)

If the accuser finds the libelous statement in the comments section of one of your posts, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act indicates that you’re not liable, No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.” 

Since “interactive computer service” can apply to blogs, forums, and sites with user reviews, you may not be held responsible for what other people post on your website, even if you’re moderating them. 

However, this only applies to third parties. If an employee posts a libelous statement, then you may lose the protections under the Communications Decency Act.

Note: Always refer to a lawyer for legal advice pertaining to your particular situation.

AI-Generated Content

If artificial intelligence is responsible for the libelous content, then things aren’t as straightforward. AI technology is so new that the legal industry is still catching up with the rules and regulations surrounding its use. 

With cases like Walters vs OpenAI in progress though, there should be more clarity on the relationship between AI and defamation in the near future.

Laws are still adapting to AI, so as a precaution, operate under the assumption that you are liable for the AI-generated content you publish. It's hard to prove that AI made statements with malicious or negligent intent — necessary elements of a defamation case. 

To protect your website and avoid potential AI-generated issues:

  • Run articles through an AI content detector.
  • Review AI-written sections for possible instances of libel or defamation and then remove them before publication. 
  • Additionally, use a fact checker to review information and produce accurate content.

Taking steps to ensure that you review AI content can help avoid potential issues later on.

Common Legal Defenses Against Libel and Defamation Accusations

Some of the most common legal defenses against libel and defamation cases involve:

  • Truth
  • Opinion
  • Absolute privilege
  • Qualified privilege
  • Retraction

Let’s take a closer look at each of these below.

Truth

A statement isn’t typically defamatory if it’s true, so it’s a common legal defense. When defending a true statement in a defamation case, consult with your lawyer for advice. 

Note: If a statement contains minor mistakes, it falls under the category of substantial truth, which may still be considered truth — depending on the case.

Opinion

When it involves presenting a false statement as fact, an opinion isn’t usually defamatory. However, this can vary depending on the situation.

For example, let’s say you publish a statement like “I think [person] is rude”. This is typically considered an opinion, and further, the definition of what is “rude” varies.

However, if you write a post that says something like “I think that [person] is embezzling money from their company,” the opinion defense may not apply. In this case, the statement about embezzling can be proven or disproven and could seriously harm the person’s reputation.

Absolute Privilege

Absolute privilege means that in certain contexts, you can’t be held liable for libelous statements. This defense often applies in a legal context to allow people to speak freely on important subjects.

For example, if a witness makes a libelous statement during a trial, they will likely qualify for absolute privilege.

Qualified Privilege

If it’s proven that the statement was made in good faith, then the qualified privilege defense may apply. For example, creating content to warn others of potential harm or danger.

Note: This doesn’t mean that untrue information can be published, qualified privilege typically doesn’t cover lies or malicious statements. Speak to a lawyer for legal advice about qualified privilege. 

Retraction

Removing a defamatory statement from a website is retraction and can be included in a defense. However, it might not offer complete protection from a lawsuit. Many states have retraction statutes that reduce the liability for the defendant.

The rules vary by state, so it’s best to speak with an expert in defamation law to see how retraction could apply to a case.

Final Thoughts

While there are legal defenses for dealing with accusations of libel and defamation, it's best to avoid these claims in the first place. Publish content that complies with laws, use an AI content checker to identify and review AI content, and commit to publishing fair and accurate information. 

Always consult with a lawyer for legal advice that pertains to your particular case or situation.

Jess Sawyer

Jess Sawyer is a seasoned writer and content marketing expert with a passion for crafting engaging and SEO-optimized content. With several years of experience in the digital marketing, Jess has honed her skills in creating content that not only captivates audiences but also ranks high on search engine results.

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In The Press

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Originality.ai did a fantastic job on all three prompts, precisely detecting them as AI-written. Additionally, after I checked with actual human-written textual content, it did determine it as 100% human-generated, which is important.

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I use this tool most frequently to check for AI content personally. My most frequent use-case is checking content submitted by freelance writers we work with for AI and plagiarism.

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Jon Gillham, Founder of Originality.ai came up with a tool to detect whether the content is written by humans or AI tools. It’s built on such technology that can specifically detect content by ChatGPT-3 — by giving you a spam score of 0-100, with an accuracy of 94%.

Felix Rose-Collins

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ChatGPT lacks empathy and originality. It’s also recognized as AI-generated content most of the time by plagiarism and AI detectors like Originality.ai

Ashley Stahl

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Originality.ai Do give them a shot! 

Sri Krishna

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For web publishers, Originality.ai will enable you to scan your content seamlessly, see who has checked it previously, and detect if an AI-powered tool was implored.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to check for plagiarism?

Tools for conducting a plagiarism check between two documents online are important as it helps to ensure the originality and authenticity of written work. Plagiarism undermines the value of professional and educational institutions, as well as the integrity of the authors who write articles. By checking for plagiarism, you can ensure the work that you produce is original or properly attributed to the original author. This helps prevent the distribution of copied and misrepresented information.

What is Text Comparison?

Text comparison is the process of taking two or more pieces of text and comparing them to see if there are any similarities, differences and/or plagiarism. The objective of a text comparison is to see if one of the texts has been copied or paraphrased from another text. This text compare tool for plagiarism check between two documents has been built to help you streamline that process by finding the discrepancies with ease.

How do Text Comparison Tools Work?

Text comparison tools work by analyzing and comparing the contents of two or more text documents to find similarities and differences between them. This is typically done by breaking the texts down into smaller units such as sentences or phrases, and then calculating a similarity score based on the number of identical or nearly identical units. The comparison may be based on the exact wording of the text, or it may take into account synonyms and other variations in language. The results of the comparison are usually presented in the form of a report or visual representation, highlighting the similarities and differences between the texts.

String comparison is a fundamental operation in text comparison tools that involves comparing two sequences of characters to determine if they are identical or not. This comparison can be done at the character level or at a higher level, such as the word or sentence level.

The most basic form of string comparison is the equality test, where the two strings are compared character by character and a Boolean result indicating whether they are equal or not is returned. More sophisticated string comparison algorithms use heuristics and statistical models to determine the similarity between two strings, even if they are not exactly the same. These algorithms often use techniques such as edit distance, which measures the minimum number of operations (such as insertions, deletions, and substitutions) required to transform one string into another.

Another common technique for string comparison is n-gram analysis, where the strings are divided into overlapping sequences of characters (n-grams) and the frequency of each n-gram is compared between the two strings. This allows for a more nuanced comparison that takes into account partial similarities, rather than just exact matches.

String comparison is a crucial component of text comparison tools, as it forms the basis for determining the similarities and differences between texts. The results of the string comparison can then be used to generate a report or visual representation of the similarities and differences between the texts.

What is Syntax Highlighting?

Syntax highlighting is a feature of text editors and integrated development environments (IDEs) that helps to visually distinguish different elements of a code or markup language. It does this by coloring different elements of the code, such as keywords, variables, functions, and operators, based on a predefined set of rules.

The purpose of syntax highlighting is to make the code easier to read and understand, by drawing attention to the different elements and their structure. For example, keywords may be colored in a different hue to emphasize their importance, while comments or strings may be colored differently to distinguish them from the code itself. This helps to make the code more readable, reducing the cognitive load of the reader and making it easier to identify potential syntax errors.

How Can I Conduct a Plagiarism Check between Two Documents Online?

With our tool it’s easy, just enter or upload some text, click on the button “Compare text” and the tool will automatically display the diff between the two texts.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Text Compare Tool?

Using text comparison tools is much easier, more efficient, and more reliable than proofreading a piece of text by hand. Eliminate the risk of human error by using a tool to detect and display the text difference within seconds.

What Files Can You Inspect with This Text Compare Tool?

We have support for the file extensions .pdf, .docx, .odt, .doc and .txt. You can also enter your text or copy and paste text to compare.

Will My Data Be Shared?

There is never any data saved by the tool, when you hit “Upload” we are just scanning the text and pasting it into our text area so with our text compare tool, no data ever enters our servers.

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