Prof. McGeveran Explains Defamation Law and “Fake News”

An article in the ABA Journal extensively quoted Professor William McGeveran concerning the limits of defamation law as a possible response to the publication of so-called “fake news,” such as fabricated online rumors alleging Hillary Clinton's involvement in a pizza parlor's child sex ring. When public figures are involved, McGeveran warned, First Amendment protections shape defamation doctrine. “It is extremely difficult to define in a clear way the boundary between fake news and alternative viewpoints,” he said.