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Homeright arrow.Law and the Internetright arrow.Tort Offenses
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Tort Offenses On-line

A tort is generally explained as an injury for which the law will provide a remedy.

The table below lists the three main types of liability involved in tort law and examples of on-line injuries that would invoke those laws.

Tort Law Liabilities
Types of Liability On-line Injuries
strict liability (law imposed on certain kinds of activities by case law or by statute) trespassing into someone's computer system in violation of a statute prohibiting such conduct (e.g., sending excessive unsolicited e-mail to the computer)

hurting someone's business reputation on-line in violation of unfair trade practices or false advertising statutes
liability for intentional torts making defamatory statements about someone on-line, by e-mail, Usenet newsgroup, chat, or on a Web site

cyberstalking or cyber-harassing through extreme and outrageous conduct on-line
negligence providing careless information about someone on-line

entering into a professional relationship with someone on-line and then failing to exercise a reasonable standard of care in conducting that relationship (e.g., physician-patient, lawyer-client, accountant-client)


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Updated July 9, 2003