Long Beach, CA asked in Copyright for California

Q: Is the posting of a person's mugshot on Google the same as slander ?

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3 Lawyer Answers
William John Light
William John Light
Answered
  • Santa Ana, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Slander is the false statement of fact that damages someone's reputation. Publishing a mug shot doesn't sound like a false statement. Publishing mug shots of a minor can be illegal. Charging people to remove mug shots can be illegal in California.

leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&division=3.&title=1.81.27.&part=4.&chapter=&article=

Theodore Allan Greene
Theodore Allan Greene
Answered
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Probably not without more information. If the police released the mug shot it most likely became a public record at that time.

Dale S. Gribow
Dale S. Gribow
Answered
  • Palm Desert, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: more info would be helpful but probably not illegal.

it would require a false statement and it probably would not be false if arrest and police published it.

the mug shot becomes public one police release.

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