{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013.json",
  "id": "ukpga/2013/26",
  "title": "Defamation Act 2013",
  "long_title": "An Act to amend the law of defamation.",
  "citation": "2013 c. 26",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "2013",
  "number": "26",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "2013-04-25",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2022-08-08",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "unapplied_effects": 0,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/requirement-of-serious-harm",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Requirement of serious harm",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "Serious harm",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-1",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/requirement-of-serious-harm"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/defences",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Defences",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "Truth",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-2",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": "Honest opinion",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-3",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "Publication on matter of public interest",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-4",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/5",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": "Operators of websites",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-5",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": "Peer-reviewed statement in scientific or academic journal etc",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-6",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Reports etc protected by privilege",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-7",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/single-publication-rule",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Single publication rule",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/8",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "8",
      "heading": "Single publication rule",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-8",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/single-publication-rule"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/jurisdiction",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Jurisdiction",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/9",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": "Action against a person not domiciled in the UK ...",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-9",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/jurisdiction"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/10",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "10",
      "heading": "Action against a person who was not the author, editor etc",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-10",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/jurisdiction"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/trial-by-jury",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Trial by jury",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11",
      "heading": "Trial to be without a jury unless the court orders otherwise",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-11",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/trial-by-jury"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/summary-of-court-judgment",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Summary of court judgment",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/12",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "12",
      "heading": "Power of court to order a summary of its judgment to be published",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-12",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/summary-of-court-judgment"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/removal-etc-of-statements",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Removal, etc of statements",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/13",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "13",
      "heading": "Order to remove statement or cease distribution etc",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-13",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/removal-etc-of-statements"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/slander",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Slander",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/14",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "14",
      "heading": "Special damage",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-14",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/slander"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/general-provisions",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "General provisions",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/15",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "15",
      "heading": "Meaning of “publish” and “statement”",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-15",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/general-provisions"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "16",
      "heading": "Consequential amendments and savings etc",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-16",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/general-provisions"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/17",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "17",
      "heading": "Short title, extent and commencement",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-2013/section-17",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/general-provisions"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/26",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:08:10.128554+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}