A negative Google review. An anonymous Facebook post accusing you of things you never did. A TikTok video distorting facts and reaching thousands of viewers. A former associate or competitor spreading false claims about your business in forums, review platforms or social media groups.
Online defamation and, more broadly, online attacks against personality rights are now among the most common — and often underestimated — legal problems. Many victims believe that “nothing can be done online” or that anonymity makes legal action impossible.
That is not true. Greek law provides criminal, civil and administrative legal tools, while major online platforms also operate reporting and removal mechanisms for unlawful or rights-infringing content.
What Defamation Means Under Greek Law
In everyday language, the term “defamation” is often used for any offensive, false or damaging statement made against a person or business. Legally, however, greater precision is required.
Following the amendments introduced by Law 5090/2024, simple defamation as a standalone criminal offence has been abolished under Greek criminal law. This means that the mere dissemination of a fact capable of harming someone’s honour or reputation is no longer, by itself, sufficient for criminal liability, unless the elements of slanderous defamation or another criminal offence are met.
Slanderous defamation, provided for under Article 363 of the Greek Penal Code, remains a criminal offence. It occurs when a person, before a third party and by any means, alleges or disseminates about another person a false fact, knowing that it is false, and that fact is capable of harming the other person’s honour or reputation. Where the act is committed publicly or online, it is treated more severely.
Separately from criminal liability, Greek civil law protects individuals and businesses through the rules on personality rights, in particular Articles 57, 59, 914 and 932 of the Greek Civil Code. The affected person may seek cessation of the infringement, non-repetition in the future and, where the legal requirements are met, compensation for moral damage or financial loss.
What Makes Online Defamation Different
Online attacks have characteristics that make them particularly damaging and legally more complex.
Speed and scale of dissemination. A false or offensive comment can reach hundreds or thousands of users within hours. Unlike spoken words, digital content can remain available, be copied, shared or archived.
Anonymity of the perpetrator. Many users hide behind fake profiles, anonymous usernames or technical tools designed to conceal their identity. Identifying them may require a combination of legal action, technical documentation and, in criminal cases, steps by the competent authorities.
Persistence of content. Even if a post is deleted, it may already have been captured in screenshots, shared elsewhere or indexed by search engines.
Cross-border elements. The user may be located in another country, the platform may be based outside Greece, while the harm is suffered in Greece. Such cases require careful assessment of jurisdiction, applicable law and the practical effectiveness of each available legal route.
Your Legal Options
Criminal route — Complaint for slanderous defamation
Where the content contains false factual allegations and there are indications that the perpetrator knew they were false, filing a criminal complaint for slanderous defamation may be considered.
Slanderous defamation is prosecuted upon complaint. The deadline is generally three months from the moment the victim became aware both of the act and of the person who committed it. This is a short and important deadline, making early legal assessment essential.
Criminal proceedings may serve not only a punitive but also a deterrent function, particularly where the perpetrator continues to reproduce the content or where repeated attacks are involved.
Civil lawsuit — Cessation, non-repetition and compensation
Alongside or independently of criminal proceedings, the affected person may bring a civil claim for infringement of personality rights.
Depending on the circumstances, the court may order the cessation of the infringement, prohibit its repetition in the future and award monetary satisfaction for moral damage. In the case of professionals or businesses, compensation may also be claimed for proven financial loss, such as lost clients, cancelled contracts or damage to commercial reputation.
Injunctions and interim measures — Urgent protection
Where the content remains online and the infringement is ongoing, interim measures may be considered. This route is particularly useful where urgent judicial protection is required, especially for the removal or cessation of further dissemination of content causing immediate and continuing harm.
In urgent cases, a request for a temporary order may also be examined, provided the legal requirements are met.
Removal request to the platform
Google, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other major platforms operate mechanisms for reporting unlawful or rights-infringing content. In many cases, a properly substantiated legal removal request may be faster in practice than court proceedings, especially where it includes a clear explanation of the violation, exact URLs, supporting evidence and legal reasoning.
Removal is neither automatic nor guaranteed. It depends on the content, the platform, the applicable policy and whether a violation of law or rights can be established.
Personal data and complaint before the Hellenic Data Protection Authority
Where the offensive post includes unlawful disclosure or processing of personal data — such as photographs, identity details, addresses, personal information, sensitive data or private correspondence — a complaint before the Hellenic Data Protection Authority may also be considered.
This route is particularly important where the issue is not limited to honour and reputation, but also involves the unlawful exposure of personal information online.
How to Prove Online Defamation or Personality Rights Infringement
Evidence is critical. The first and most important step is timely documentation before the perpetrator deletes or modifies the content.
Useful evidence may include:
Screenshots showing the date, time and full URL.
Saving the link and the full content of the post or review.
A notarial certification of website content, where necessary, in order to strengthen evidentiary value.
Evidence of dissemination, such as views, shares, comments or ratings.
Evidence of financial loss, especially for businesses or professionals, including cancellations, lost clients or specific impact on commercial relationships.
A simple screenshot may not be sufficient in every case. In serious or urgent matters, evidence should be collected in a way that can be effectively used in court or in an out-of-court procedure.
Common Online Defamation Scenarios
Negative Google reviews
Not every negative review is unlawful. A subjective opinion, even if harsh or unpleasant, is generally protected as an expression of opinion. By contrast, a false factual allegation — for example, that a business defrauded a customer, failed to provide a service or acted unlawfully when this is not true — may give rise to legal claims.
The distinction between opinion, value judgment and factual allegation is often the central issue in such cases.
Anonymous posts
Anonymity does not necessarily mean impunity. In serious cases, identification may be pursued through the available legal procedures. However, the practical ability to identify the perpetrator depends on the technical traces available, the cooperation of providers or platforms and whether the case has domestic or cross-border elements.
Defamation by former employees, associates or competitors
In a business context, an online attack may also involve unfair competition, breach of confidentiality or abusive conduct by a former associate. In such cases, the legal basis may extend beyond personality rights infringement.
Viral content
When a video, comment or post starts spreading rapidly, speed of reaction is crucial. The more widely the content is reproduced, the greater the potential harm and the harder it becomes to contain the damage fully.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Defamation in Greece
If the comment is true, can I still do something?
It depends. The truth of a factual statement significantly reduces the prospects of establishing criminal slanderous defamation, since this offence requires a false fact and knowledge of its falsity. However, even true information may, in certain circumstances, raise issues of personality rights infringement, personal data violation or unlawful exposure of private information, depending on the content and the manner of publication.
How long do I have to file a complaint for slanderous defamation?
The deadline is generally three months from the moment you became aware both of the act and of the person who committed it. If the perpetrator is not yet known, specific legal assessment is required, as the timing and proof of knowledge may be decisive.
Can I claim compensation for online defamation in Greece?
Yes, provided the legal requirements are met. A claim may be brought for moral damage and, where proven, for material or financial loss. The amount depends on the seriousness of the infringement, the extent of dissemination, the status of the affected person, the perpetrator’s conduct and the proven damage.
What if the perpetrator is abroad?
Cross-border online attacks are complex, but not necessarily impossible to address. If the harm occurs in Greece or concerns a person or business with a substantial connection to Greece, it may be possible to examine proceedings before Greek courts and/or removal mechanisms through the platform.
Is a negative Google Maps review defamation?
Not always. Statements such as “I was not satisfied” or “the service was poor” are usually subjective evaluations. By contrast, allegations such as “they defrauded me”, “they took money without providing the service” or “they operate illegally”, where false, may have serious legal significance.
Can I request removal without going to court?
Yes. In many cases, a removal request may be submitted to the platform, a legal letter may be sent to the perpetrator or a complaint may be filed before a competent authority, such as the Hellenic Data Protection Authority where personal data issues arise. If the content remains online or the harm is serious, judicial action may be required.
Work with an Experienced Law Firm in Greece
Online defamation is not merely a reputational inconvenience. It may constitute a serious infringement of personality rights, professional standing and commercial reputation.
Our firm provides specialised legal support in cases involving online defamation, slanderous posts, false reviews, personality rights infringement, unlawful disclosure of personal data and online harassment.
We assist with the legal assessment of the content, the collection and organisation of evidence, the drafting of legal notices and removal requests, the filing of complaints before competent authorities, and representation in interim measures, civil claims and criminal proceedings where required.
In these cases, speed and precision are essential. The longer unlawful or offensive content remains visible, the greater the potential harm. Timely legal action can help limit dissemination, protect your reputation and create the conditions for effective judicial or out-of-court resolution.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each case requires an individual assessment, based on its specific facts and the applicable legal framework. For tailored legal advice, please contact our office.
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