Compensation of $115,000 for being defamed on Facebook

Kenneth Rothe's (74 years old) business in Australia was severely affected by false rumors on social networks.

This can be seen as a cautionary tale about posting information indiscriminately online. Kenneth Rothe and his family own two hotels, Nirvana Village and Blue Dolphin, in the coastal city of Nambucca, Australia. Disaster struck when one day his hotel was accused of harboring pedophiles.

In March 2014, David Scott, an electrician, posted a status on Facebook with the following content: "Paedophiles are back in Nambucca, and hiding at the Blue Dolphin Hotel, Nirvana Village! School buses even stop right in front of these two hotels..."

Kenneth Rothe's family hotel. Photo: SMH

As the post went viral, Rothe began receiving anonymous phone calls and two death threats. He was even attacked and hospitalized for six months. Eventually, the Rothe family had to move to a coastal village.

The allegation was later found to be unfounded by the court. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Rothe only regularly hosted people who were having family disputes, and that he did not harbour paedophiles.

After the case went to court, Scott was ordered to pay $115,000 in damages to Rothe. Judith Gibson, the judge in the case, concluded: "The anonymity and speed with which information spreads on social media has become a dangerous tool for the unthinking."

According to VNE