Defamation and Online Harassment Laws in Michigan

Defamation in Michigan is a court-made, common-law claim shaped by the First Amendment and by MCL 600.2911, which sets rules on damages, retraction, privilege and fault. A plaintiff generally must prove a false and defamatory statement about them, an unprivileged publication to a third party, fault of at least negligence, and either harm or a statement that is defamatory per se.

Sources1Digital Media Law Project, Michigan Defamation Law2MCL 600.2911

Michigan's penal code still includes MCL 750.370, which makes it a misdemeanor to falsely and maliciously accuse another person, by words, writing, signs or otherwise, of a crime or an infamous or degrading act, or to attribute a lack of chastity to a woman. The official code lists this section with no repeal note. A separate offense for derogatory statements about a bank's financial condition (MCL 750.97) was repealed effective March 14, 2016.

Sources3MCL 750.3704MCL 750.97 (repealed by 2015 PA 210)

A lawsuit for libel or slander in Michigan must be filed within one year. This deadline is set by MCL 600.5805(11), part of the state's statute of limitations for injuries to persons and property.

Sources5MCL 600.5805(11)1Digital Media Law Project, Michigan Defamation Law

Related guide: Statute of limitations for defamation in every state

Michigan treats statements that falsely accuse someone of a crime as defamatory per se, and by statute words imputing a lack of chastity to any woman or man are actionable in themselves, just like an accusation of a crime. Unlike many states, Michigan does not treat statements about a person's business or profession as automatically defamatory per se.

Sources2MCL 600.2911(1)1Digital Media Law Project, Michigan Defamation Law

Related guide: What defamation per se means

Michigan adopted the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (2025 PA 52, MCL 691.1851 to 691.1863), which applies to civil actions filed on or after March 24, 2026. It covers claims based on statements in government proceedings and on the exercise of speech, press, assembly, petition or association rights on matters of public concern, with exceptions such as certain communications by businesses about the goods or services they sell and a list of civil rights and employment claims. A defendant generally must file the motion within 60 days of being served, most other proceedings, including discovery, are paused while it is pending, and a defendant who wins the motion is awarded court costs, reasonable attorney fees and litigation expenses.

Sources6MCL 691.1852 (Uniform Public Expression Protection Act)7MCL 691.18538MCL 691.18549MCL 691.186010MCL 691.186311Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Anti-SLAPP Legal Guide: Michigan

Related guide: Anti-SLAPP laws by state

In a libel case, a plaintiff cannot recover exemplary or punitive damages unless, before suing, they gave the defendant notice to publish a retraction and allowed a reasonable time to do so. Otherwise, recovery in libel and slander cases is limited to actual damages to the plaintiff's property, business, trade, profession, occupation or feelings. A retraction generally has to be published in substantially the same manner, and with similar prominence, as the original statement.

Source2MCL 600.2911(2)

Substantial truth and opinion are recognized defenses in Michigan, and fair and true reports of public records, official proceedings and actions of public bodies are privileged by statute. Public officials and public figures must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the statement was published knowing it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth, while a private person must show at least negligence.

Sources2MCL 600.2911(3), (6) and (7)1Digital Media Law Project, Michigan Defamation Law

Michigan's stalking law, MCL 750.411h, covers a willful course of repeated or continuing harassment that would make a reasonable person feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened or harassed, and that actually makes the victim feel that way. The listed forms of unconsented contact include sending electronic communications. Stalking is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, and a felony when the victim is a minor and the offender is at least five years older. Victims can also sue for damages, exemplary damages and attorney fees under MCL 600.2954, whether or not criminal charges were brought.

Sources12MCL 750.411h13MCL 600.2954

Related guide: Cyberstalking laws explained

MCL 750.411s makes it a felony to post a message about someone through the internet or another electronic medium without their consent, intending to make them feel terrorized, frightened or harassed, when the poster knows or has reason to know the post could lead to repeated unwanted contact with the victim and the victim suffers emotional distress. The basic offense carries up to two years in prison, rising to five years in aggravated cases. Separately, MCL 750.540e makes malicious use of a telecommunications service to threaten or harass someone a misdemeanor.

Sources14MCL 750.411s15MCL 750.540e

Related guide: Online harassment laws explained

Michigan has no statute that uses the word doxxing, but MCL 750.411s can cover posting information about a person online, whether true or not, without their consent when the poster knows or has reason to know it could lead to repeated unwanted contact and intends to frighten or harass them. Michigan can prosecute the offense if, for example, the message was posted in Michigan, the victim was in Michigan, or the poster knew the victim lived there.

Source14MCL 750.411s

Related guide: Is doxxing illegal?

Under MCL 750.145e, it is a crime to post or distribute sexually explicit images of an identifiable adult with intent to threaten, coerce or intimidate, when the images were obtained in circumstances where they were meant to stay private and the person did not consent. A first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail, and a repeat offense by up to one year, under MCL 750.145f.

Sources16MCL 750.145e17MCL 750.145f