Actual Malice

Actual malice refers to intentionally publishing false information about someone with knowledge that it is false or reckless disregard for the truth. In legal terms, particularly in defamation cases involving public figures, proving actual malice means showing that the publisher acted with either deliberate falsehood or a reckless attitude toward the facts. It’s a higher standard than simple negligence, requiring proof that the publisher knowingly spread falsehoods or showed a blatant disregard for accuracy, which can significantly limit the publisher's liability.