网络时代诽谤罪的价值结构与司法适用

The Value Structure and Judicial Application of Defamation in the Internet Era

对诽谤罪的判断应当回到对公民基本权利,即言论自由,或通过言论行使的其他基本权利和名誉权两者价值判断的领域之上,对社会法益的判断也应肯定为造成社会危惧感的侵犯名誉权的行为。未能通过基本权利价值比对的行为,即使侵犯了其他社会法益,也不构成诽谤罪。在互联网语境下,应肯定私营平台对网络内容进行管理的权力可与传统公权力进行类比,从而扩大公民通过言论自由实现权利的范围,对行使此类管理权力相关人员的批评言论中包括不实信息的,应在合理限度内阻却违法,不构成诽谤罪。

The judgment of defamation should be brought back to the realm of value judgment between the fundamental rights of citizens,namely freedom of speech,and other basic rights exercised through speech,as well as the right to reputation.The judgment of social interests should also affirm that behaviors causing a sense of social dread through the infringement of the right to reputation are offensive.Actions that fail to pass the value comparison of fundamental rights do not constitute defamation even if they infringe on other social interests.In the context of the internet,the power of private-run platforms to manage online content should be analogized to traditional public power,thereby expanding the scope of rights that citizens can realize through freedom of speech.Criticisms related to the exercise of such management power,including misinformation,should be within reasonable limits to prevent illegality and should not constitute defamation.