Israel’s Outdated Defamation Laws
In Israel today, posting a negative Google review about a business or service provider isn’t just risky — it can land you in court. Thanks to outdated and dangerously broad defamation laws, telling the truth online can be treated as a criminal offense, even when your only crime is warning others about a scam.
Unlike in the US, where truth is a near-absolute defense against libel claims, Israeli law makes it astonishingly easy for bad actors — be they landlords, mechanics, or dentists — to silence criticism. If your review “harms their reputation,” that’s often enough to sue, regardless of whether it’s factually accurate. Even the whiff of a lawsuit is enough to discourage and limit speech, especially among ordinary people who don’t have the time, money, or emotional energy to fight a prolonged legal battle.
If a business claims your honest criticism damaged their reputation, they can sue — and many do. This isn’t theoretical. People across the country have been dragged into legal proceedings simply for sharing accurate, bad experiences with contractors, landlords, and service providers.
In a well-known case, a woman was forced to pay the rough equivalent of $5,000 after posting “yuck” about a pizza place. This case became a prominent illustration of Israel’s strict defamation laws and is often cited as a warning against even casual negative reviews.
Some years ago, I participated in a hidden camera investigation for an Israeli TV channel. I walked into a few stores and supermarkets, pretending to be a naive American tourist. Even a supermarket cashier scammed me. He distracted me while charging me twice for a glass canister of freeze-dried coffee. A Facebook review of this supermarket was deleted from Facebook due to concerns around the business owner bringing a defamation lawsuit.
Stories abound of Israelis being sued for defamation over Google reviews, Facebook posts, or even WhatsApp messages warning friends about a bad deal.
It’s the kind of absurdity you wouldn’t expect in a democracy: That the legal system would rather protect the reputation of a scammer than the rights of a consumer.
In a country where customer service is often nonexistent and prices fluctuate depending on how gullible you look, this legal environment is nothing short of dangerous. Getting scammed in Israel isn’t rare — it’s a daily hazard. For those who weren’t born in Israel and speak Hebrew with an accent or in another language, everyday transactions can feel like a minefield of scams and inflated prices. Over time, it becomes hard to trust anyone.
Israel’s lawmakers urgently need to reform its defamation laws to reflect the digital age. Consumers must have the right to share honest experiences without fear of financial ruin. Truth should not be punishable.
