Memes: Difference between Defamation and Whining 

In today’s social networking world, memes are often found on many social media platforms. They’re an interesting form of communication that expresses ideas and beliefs by an image tacked on with a humorous catchphrase. Though these can sometimes be controversial, memes are a unique way to explain a certain point of view. The reason why memes are sometimes problematic is because they can at times be taken as a defamatory statement, in which they can portray an individual or public figure in false light.

Recently, Russia leader Vladimir Putin put an outlaw on memes to which “refers to impersonating or sharing doctored images of public figures that are deemed out-of-context in relation to their personality or reputation in real life”. The ban came from Vladimir Putin himself after Russian singer Valeri Syutkin falsely associated Putin with domestic violence. As a result under Russian Federal Law, they are now allowed to block websites without a court order.

One group presentation took this controversy to UNL campus and asked students what their thoughts would be if the United States had the same law on memes. While there were many answers given, it seemed like the majority of students thought the law was ridiculous, as did I. However, the more I looked at it the more I could understand the reason behind the law. In the United States, offensive publicity that is not true is a defamatory statement if it were to be false. There are many elements that play apart in proving that the statement was defamation.

In the U.S court of law, suggests that a false accusation to the plaintiff involving a serious crime can sue for defamation (and respectively so). With that said, the statement must reflect negatively on the plaintiff’s character, morality, or integrity, and a false accusation of a felony can hold up in the court of law. In the case where Russian singer Valeri Syutkin falsely associated Putin with domestic violence would hold up in the U.S court of law because the meme falsely accused Putin of domestic violence and reflected negatively on the his reputation and character. Even though it might be argued that Putin lacks both.

In most recent news, a Russian medical doctor was terminated by the state for sharing a meme that compared Putin to Gollum, a Lord of the Rings character. This without question would not hold up in the U.S court of law and is outrages to even consider this to be an unlawful act. Though this whining about getting your feelings hurt does fit in today’s political correctness agenda.