The Only Path to Justice : The Criminal Legal System and Defamation Judgments Related to #MeToo in Sweden
(2024) In Feminist Legal Studies- Abstract
- This article presents a study of court judgments involving women who, in connection with #MeToo, identified alleged perpetrators of sexual violence in social media and were later prosecuted for and convicted of criminal defamation in Sweden. We conceptualise the use of social media to share experiences of sexual violence as an informal path to justice. First, we show that this is supported by how court judgments describe women’s reasons for sharing their information, such as telling their story and sharing it with others. Second, according to Swedish defamation law, a truth defence is allowed only if the defamatory statement is first considered to be justifiable, balancing between the defendant’s interest of freedom of speech and the... (More)
- This article presents a study of court judgments involving women who, in connection with #MeToo, identified alleged perpetrators of sexual violence in social media and were later prosecuted for and convicted of criminal defamation in Sweden. We conceptualise the use of social media to share experiences of sexual violence as an informal path to justice. First, we show that this is supported by how court judgments describe women’s reasons for sharing their information, such as telling their story and sharing it with others. Second, according to Swedish defamation law, a truth defence is allowed only if the defamatory statement is first considered to be justifiable, balancing between the defendant’s interest of freedom of speech and the complainant’s interest of honour and reputation. We show that an informal justice mechanism, such as speaking out on social media, is not a recognised defence against defamation claims. In effect, the criminal justice system emerges as the only path to justice for victims of sexual violence, simultaneously making perpetrators invisible and victims responsible for telling without naming. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/9670feed-8bfa-4975-bda3-493eb882fed3
- author
- Andersson, Ulrika LU and Wegerstad, Linnea LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-02-20
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- sexual violence, criminal justice, defamation, #metoo, Sweden, Straffrätt, Sverige
- in
- Feminist Legal Studies
- publisher
- Springer
- ISSN
- 0966-3622
- project
- The #metoo momentum and its aftermath:digital justice seeking and societal and legal responses
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 9670feed-8bfa-4975-bda3-493eb882fed3
- date added to LUP
- 2023-11-10 16:11:43
- date last changed
- 2024-03-04 08:31:16
@article{9670feed-8bfa-4975-bda3-493eb882fed3, abstract = {{This article presents a study of court judgments involving women who, in connection with #MeToo, identified alleged perpetrators of sexual violence in social media and were later prosecuted for and convicted of criminal defamation in Sweden. We conceptualise the use of social media to share experiences of sexual violence as an informal path to justice. First, we show that this is supported by how court judgments describe women’s reasons for sharing their information, such as telling their story and sharing it with others. Second, according to Swedish defamation law, a truth defence is allowed only if the defamatory statement is first considered to be justifiable, balancing between the defendant’s interest of freedom of speech and the complainant’s interest of honour and reputation. We show that an informal justice mechanism, such as speaking out on social media, is not a recognised defence against defamation claims. In effect, the criminal justice system emerges as the only path to justice for victims of sexual violence, simultaneously making perpetrators invisible and victims responsible for telling without naming.}}, author = {{Andersson, Ulrika and Wegerstad, Linnea}}, issn = {{0966-3622}}, keywords = {{sexual violence; criminal justice; defamation; #metoo; Sweden; Straffrätt; Sverige}}, language = {{eng}}, month = {{02}}, publisher = {{Springer}}, series = {{Feminist Legal Studies}}, title = {{The Only Path to Justice : The Criminal Legal System and Defamation Judgments Related to #MeToo in Sweden}}, year = {{2024}}, }