Think about this before leaving a negative comment on a business on the Internet

Sharing a negative review can cost you dearly.

Consumers in Canada face hefty fines of up to $115,000 for their digital reviews.

Véronique Parent, a lawyer and analyst at Option Consummature, is concerned about the lack of protection for those expressing their views online. She also wrote a 77-page report documenting a significant increase in defamation lawsuits filed by companies against consumers.

“Consumers are increasingly being prosecuted for criticizing a company,” the lawyer said. “Often, these are sometimes very high amounts. In Quebec, it rises to $25,000.

How far can we go in criticism?

The report highlights a gray area: how far consumers can go with criticism without it becoming defamatory.

“The current lack of guidelines exposes consumers to legal action, so in our opinion, there is a need to control this phenomenon,” said Ms. The parent explains.

Alberta is currently the only Canadian province that regulates these digital practices.

“It recognizes that consumers have the right to criticize a company and limits the circumstances in which a consumer can be prosecuted,” she adds.

Watch the full interview above to learn more.