ABSTRACT

Public Facebook pages are an important way in which traditional media outlets engage their readers and commercialise that engagement. In Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller (2021) 392 ALR 540; [2021] HCA 27, the High Court of Australia has recently held that media outlets are liable as publishers for defamatory third party comments posted on media outlets’ public Facebook pages even if the media outlets are not aware of the presence of those comments. The decision has significant implications not only for media outlets but for any individual or entity in Australia who host or administer a social media page. This article analyses the High Court’s decision and considers its impact.

摘要

公共 Facebook 页面是传统媒体吸引读者并将这种参与商业化的重要方式。在Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller (2021) 392 ALR 540 中；[2021] HCA 27，澳大利亚高等法院最近裁定，即使媒体不知道这些评论的存在，媒体也应作为出版商对媒体的公共 Facebook 页面上发布的诽谤性第三方评论承担责任。该决定不仅对媒体机构，而且对澳大利亚托管或管理社交媒体页面的任何个人或实体都有重大影响。本文分析高等法院的判决并考虑其影响。