When someone says something false about you, every hour the post stays up hurts
If you’re a doctor facing a one-star review that invents a story, a small business owner staring at an ex-employee’s Facebook post, or an ordinary person whose name is being dragged through a WhatsApp group, you don’t need a lecture on reputation. You need to know: can I get this taken down, can I get an apology, and is it worth going to court?
I’m Roy. I handle civil litigation at A.W. Law LLC in Chinatown. I’ve acted for professionals, business owners, and private individuals on the full range of Singapore reputation matters, from Facebook posts and Google reviews to full newspaper articles.
This page is for you if someone has said something false about you that other people have seen or heard. The first 10 minutes are free, and nothing commits you.
What defamation in Singapore actually is
Defamation is a false statement of fact about you, published to at least one other person, that makes reasonable people think less of you. In Singapore, it’s governed by the Defamation Act and common law, with the Protection from Harassment Act sitting alongside for harassment and doxxing cases. Civil claims go to the State Courts for damages up to S$250,000 and the High Court above that. Criminal defamation under the Penal Code is also possible but much rarer.
Defamation has two forms:
- Libel. Written or otherwise permanent: a Facebook post, a WhatsApp message, a blog article, an email, a voice note, a sign. The main form we deal with today, because most attacks on reputation now happen online.
- Slander. Spoken, non-permanent. A comment in a meeting, a phone call, a spoken accusation in a shop. Usually you need to show actual damage, unless the words fall into special categories (for example, accusing you of a serious crime or attacking your professional competence).
To succeed in a civil defamation claim, you usually need to show three things:
- The statement was defamatory. In its ordinary sense or by innuendo (reading between the lines of what was said).
- It referred to you. Either by name or in a way where people would know it was you.
- It was published. Seen or heard by at least one other person.
The main remedies are damages, a formal apology and retraction, a correction, and an injunction stopping further publication. For online content, we also go direct to the platform with a takedown notice.
When a defamation claim is the right answer
Before I take a matter on, I ask a few questions.
- Is it a statement of fact, or just an opinion? Calling someone “a terrible cook” is opinion. Saying they “served customers expired food” is a factual claim. The difference matters.
- Is the statement actually false? If the gist is true, even if some details are wrong, justification may be a full defence. We’ll be honest with you about that.
- Who heard or saw it, and how many? A WhatsApp to one friend is different from a post seen by 5,000 people. The reach affects both the strength of the case and the damages.
- Is there real harm? Lost clients, loss of income, mental health impact, damaged business relationships. Keep receipts and records.
- Is the person worth suing? If the publisher has no money, a court win may not convert to a real-world outcome. We’ll flag this early.
- Could the Protection from Harassment Act help? For ongoing online harassment or doxxing, POHA can sometimes move faster than a defamation suit.
The three patterns we see most often in Singapore:
- Online reviews and posts. Google, Facebook, Instagram, Carousell, workplace gossip leaking into public platforms.
- Ex-employees, ex-partners, ex-customers. People with a grievance publishing something that crosses the line from opinion to false fact.
- Business and professional reputation. Doctors, tutors, tradespeople, and small business owners whose livelihood depends on reputation.
When to act and what to expect
How long you have. Under the Limitation Act, you have 6 years from publication. For online content that stays up, each day it’s visible may be a fresh publication, but don’t rely on that. Reputation matters cool fast in court: the longer you wait, the more the other side can argue the statement didn’t really bother you.
How long it takes. A takedown notice and letter of demand often resolve a matter in 2 to 6 weeks. If the publisher refuses, a State Courts claim typically takes 6 to 12 months to trial. High Court matters take 9 to 18 months. Injunctions to stop a publication that’s about to go live can be obtained on short notice in urgent cases.
How much it costs. A letter of demand and takedown notice runs S$500 to S$2,000 as a fixed fee. If the matter settles on the letter, that’s often all you pay. A State Courts claim to trial runs S$10,000 to S$25,000. High Court matters cost more, with complex cases starting around S$25,000 and going up. Costs recovery is possible if you win, though rarely covers 100%. We quote a written price cap before we start. The 10-min Defamation Discovery Session is free.
What’s hard. Two things. First, damages are hard to prove. You’ll need screenshots with dates and URLs, a list of who saw the content, and evidence of actual harm. Gather everything you can before the first meeting. Second, defamation cases are often emotional. We try to keep the legal process focused on getting a concrete outcome (takedown, apology, damages) rather than a drawn-out vindication fight.
How we handle defamation at A.W. Law
A few things we do differently:
- Takedown-first approach. Many Singapore defamation matters close with a platform takedown and a short apology. That’s the cheapest and quickest answer and we aim for it where it fits.
- Fixed fees for letters of demand. So you know the cost before committing to a full litigation route.
- One lawyer end to end. Whoever takes your first meeting runs the matter.
- Letters in simple terms. Aimed at the publisher or their lawyer, short and precise.
- WhatsApp until 10pm on weekdays. When a post is live and spreading, you shouldn’t have to wait for Monday.
- Speak your language. English, Malay, or Tamil. Roy also speaks Malayalam.
- Honest about prospects. If we think the statement is opinion, or substantially true, we’ll say so, even if you’d rather we didn’t.
We’re at 133 New Bridge Road, #20-03 Chinatown Point. Two minutes’ walk from Chinatown MRT, Exit E. Walk-ins welcome most afternoons between 2pm and 5pm on weekdays.
What happens next
If someone has published something false about you, the next step is simple. Book a free 10-min Defamation Discovery Session using the form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp using the button anywhere on the screen.
Nothing commits you. Bring the post, the screenshot, or the letter. You’ll leave knowing whether the statement is likely defamatory, whether a takedown and apology is the right first move, and what the cost and timeline look like.
