What does the term "defamation" encompass?

The term "defamation" encompasses the act of spreading false information that damages a person's reputation. For a statement to be considered defamatory, it must be false and communicated to a third party, resulting in harm to the subject's reputation or standing in the community. This aligns with the legal understanding that defamation can be either slander, which is spoken, or libel, which is written. The focus of the term revolves around how false information can lead to significant social, professional, or personal repercussions for the individual being discussed.

In contrast, documenting a legal process pertains to the maintenance of records and does not relate to the harming of someone's reputation. Misrepresentation of evidence involves presenting false evidence in legal proceedings, which is distinct from the broader idea of defamation since it focuses on legal context rather than personal reputation. Likewise, the violation of privacy rights deals with an individual’s right to keep personal information private, separate from the notion of damaging someone's reputation through false statements.