Understanding Defamation Laws in Brazil

When applied legitimately, defamation laws are intended to protect individuals and businesses against false statements that are harmful to their reputation. Yet both civil and criminal defamation laws have the potential to be misused to prevent open public debate.

This Guide provides journalists with a practical understanding of defamation laws and the steps they can take to mitigate defamation liability in Brazil. This awareness will empower journalists to understand their legal rights and obligations and continue to report on issues of vital public interest. This was produced by the Steering Committee of the Legal Network for Journalists at Risk, namely the Committee to Protect Journalists, Media Freedom and Thomson Reuters Foundation.