Blake Dowling: Insurance for your digital mouth

You can get a cyber insurance policy to protect your organization if hit with ransomware or cyber security threat.

This can help recoup lost dollars, data, productivity and any other repercussions from a cyber intrusion/breach. There may be more fallout once the damage is assessed, firings (see Debbie Wasserman Schultz and her never-ending journey down the cyber rabbit hole) new policies put into place and other measures to prevent a future incident.

But what happens when someone sues you over a tweet? Does this happen? Yes.

As our world evolves, being held liable for what’s said on the web is becoming more common. It is certainly worth noting the fact that internet ranters and trolls may be silent in the real world, but on the digital platform, that’s where it gets ugly.

Someone may have a complete online meltdown online and cross a line — maybe Sally or Sammy Respectful during the day, but at night behind their Twitter handle of @HELLFIREMEDIA they might be putting you at risk (if they work on your staff, team etc.).

Being mouthy online can come with baggage. If you are also affluent, that makes you a bona fide target.

Let’s think about rocker Courtney Love who owns the publishing rights to the Nirvana catalog (inherited from her deceased husband Kurt Cobain). Rich and mouthy, affirmative.

Love has been a party in three defamation suits, coming from irresponsible Twitter use, one settled for only $780,000.

Ack.

So, today’s advice (free of charge), be very careful what you send out to the cyber-verse, specifically if it paints someone else in a negative light.

While it appears most online libel suits are rarely successful — as proving malicious intent is difficult — even weak cases that don’t see the light of day involve legal fees.

Large insurance providers offer personal injury umbrellas, which usually include libel coverage. It is certainly something to consider, as once something that once only concerned journalists now is something that anyone with a social media account should be aware.

The President had a case land on his desk. You can read more about here.

I am not picking sides here — Debbie, Donald or Courtney. They all could use a lesson in manners from my grandmother (rest in peace, Nana). Name calling did not sit well with her (with a few exceptions, of course; she yelled at my grandfather a lot. All in good fun, I think). #DifferentTimes.

Check out some added insurance if you or your staff push the envelope on social media; as a public service reminder, remember to be kind to one another online and in person.

The world could use it.

THE END

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Blake Dowling is CEO of Aegis Business Technologies and can be reached at [email protected].