Hardy tweet leads to Defamation case

A tweet sent by writer Marieke Hardy (Laid, First Tuesday Book Club) is now the subject of a defamation case between a Melbourne man and US-based Twitter.

Hardy apologised to the man after incorrectly naming him as the anonymous author of a hate blog targetting her. She is also believed to have made a payment of $15,000 to him.

At the time she sent out a tweet about her “internet bully” to over 60,000 followers.

The man’s lawyer served a legal notice yesterday on the San Francisco-based social media giant.

“Twitter are a publisher, and at law anyone involved in the publication can be sued,” lawyer Stuart Gibson said. “We’re suing for the retweets and the original tweet – and many of the retweets and comments are far worse.”

It is believed to be the first time an Australian will sue Twitter under Defamation.

Source:  The Age