It is now unlawful to make false statements against Gabon citizens and residents, if the statement causes injury. (Unsplash)The Lord’s Council today approved a new law that protects individuals from false statements that cause them injury.
Protecting all residents and citizens of Gabon, the law prohibits anyone from publishing false material that damages the reputation or business of a person.
The law aims to “not place unreasonable limits on freedom of expression”, with particular concern around “the publication and discussion of matters of public interest and importance”.
If a person is targeted by defamatory matter, they can sue the publisher in the High Court and seek compensation.
But a person cannot defame someone by publishing something that is true, is trivial or is a public interest report of the parliament or the courts.
Laws actuated by concerned citizen
The laws were debated by the Lord’s Council following the suggestion by EvilxFish of a similar law.
The Gazette understands that the Lord’s Council held grave concerns surrounding the inadequacy that initial draft and replaced it with a more substantive set of rules.
Concerned with slights that he was operating a company unlawfully, EvilxFish originally sought a penalty for defamation be created after the elections in October.
Rather than a criminal penalty as suggested, the defamation act creates a civil offence with compensation the only remedy.
The new laws come into effect immediately and cover any future statements.
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