German ruling declares Google liable for false answers in AI Overviews

Re:German ruling declares Google liable for false answers in... by jorvi on Wednesday June 10, 2026 @09:25AM (#48475968)

Nope, that is not defamation. Both defamation and libel require it to be a false statement. If you did find a cockroach or your plate was dirty, you can freely say so without needing to provide extensive proof.

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Re:German ruling declares Google liable for false answers in... by dcrazy on Wednesday June 10, 2026 @09:48AM (#48476242)

Are you speaking about the law in Germany? Truth is not an absolute defense to libel in all countries.

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Re:German ruling declares Google liable for false answers in... by Ravus on Wednesday June 10, 2026 @10:01AM (#48476444)

I can vouch for what you're saying - Italy is a jurisdiction in which truth is not a defense, for instance.

Truthful statement seem to be a defense for Germany, though. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_st...

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Re:German ruling declares Google liable for false answers in... by dcrazy on Wednesday June 10, 2026 @01:39PM (#48479845)

I’m not a lawyer, much less a German lawyer, but it does seem to my lay eyes that this is true of “malicious gossip.” But what is “insult”?

> Section 192

> Insult despite proof of the truth

> Proof of the truth of the asserted or disseminated fact does not preclude punishment in accordance with section 185 if the insult results from the form of the assertion or dissemination or the circumstances under which it was made.

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