The False Light Invasion Of Privacy refers to any cause of action that occurs when a person portrays another person in a non-flattering way. This can also be done in the form of words and pictures.
A great instance of this would be using a stock photograph of an individual and terming him/her as a sex offender even if they are not. This is actively painting them in a negative light.
Three Essential Elements Of Any False Light Claim
The following False Light elements must be proven before filing for a lawsuit in this regard:
- the defendant must have made a public disclosure
- the already-made public statement placed you in a false light
- an average person would consider the placed false light to be offensive
There are also some cases where the person filing the claim has to prove that the defendant had acted with malicious intentions.
Vastly Different Than Defamation!
Now, the two might seem similar but false light vs defamation are a lot different in reality. Defamation harms the reputation of a victim. While, on the other hand, False Light invades the privacy of a person.