US state guide
This guide is general information about the law in New Hampshire, checked against the sources listed below on November 1, 2026. It is not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different: for advice on your situation, speak to a licensed attorney in New Hampshire.
01Defamation law in New Hampshire
Where the law comes from
Defamation in New Hampshire is a civil claim defined mainly by court decisions rather than by a statute. The New Hampshire Supreme Court says a plaintiff must show that the defendant failed to use reasonable care in publishing a false and defamatory statement of fact about the plaintiff to a third party, and that no valid privilege covers the communication.
Sources1Pierson v. Hubbard, 147 N.H. 760 (2002)2Thomas v. Telegraph Publishing Co., 155 N.H. 314 (2007)
Is defamation a crime?
RSA 644:11 makes it a class B misdemeanor to purposely tell anyone, orally or in writing, information the speaker knows is false and knows will tend to expose another living person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule. A class B misdemeanor cannot be punished with jail or probation; the penalties are a fine (up to $1,200 for an individual), a discharge or other sanctions. In 2022 the First Circuit rejected a constitutional challenge to the statute, which is still in the code; most defamation disputes are handled as civil lawsuits.
Sources3N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:114N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:25Frese v. Formella, No. 21-1068 (1st Cir. Nov. 8, 2022)
Statute of limitations
Under RSA 508:4, II, a lawsuit for libel or slander generally must be brought within three years of the time the claim accrued, unless another law provides otherwise. The discovery rule that can extend the deadline for other personal actions under RSA 508:4, I expressly excludes libel and slander.
Source6N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4
Defamation per se
New Hampshire courts have recognized defamation per se. Spoken words that accuse someone of a serious, morally reprehensible crime can be actionable without proof of special (financial) damage, and when a written publication charges a person with a crime or tends to injure them in their trade or business, the court has allowed general damages, such as harm to reputation, without specific proof of those damages.
Sources7Jones v. Walsh, 107 N.H. 379 (1966)8Chagnon v. Union-Leader Corp., 103 N.H. 426 (1961)
Anti-SLAPP protection
New Hampshire has no anti-SLAPP law. In 1994 the state Supreme Court advised the Senate that a proposed special motion to strike would violate the right to a jury trial under Part I, Article 20 of the state constitution, and a 2024 anti-SLAPP bill (HB 1475) never received a vote. Separately, under RSA 507:15 a court that finds a tort or contract action or defense frivolous or meant to harass or intimidate may enter summary judgment and award reasonable costs and attorney's fees plus $1,000.
Sources9Opinion of the Justices (SLAPP Suit Procedure), 138 N.H. 445 (1994)10RCFP Anti-SLAPP Legal Guide: New Hampshire11N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507:15
Defenses and public figures
Truth is a defense, and only substantial truth is required: a statement is protected if its gist or sting is true even when some details are wrong. An opinion is not actionable unless it can reasonably be read as implying undisclosed defamatory facts. Fair and accurate reports of official actions or proceedings, such as official police records, are covered by a conditional fair report privilege, which, like other conditional privileges, can be lost through malice such as ill will. Private plaintiffs generally need to show negligence, while public figures must prove actual malice.
Sources2Thomas v. Telegraph Publishing Co., 155 N.H. 314 (2007)1Pierson v. Hubbard, 147 N.H. 760 (2002)
02Online harassment, cyberstalking and doxxing in New Hampshire
Cyberstalking
Stalking under RSA 633:3-a covers a course of conduct (two or more acts) aimed at a specific person that causes, or is meant to cause, fear for their safety or their immediate family's safety. The listed acts include any communication as defined in RSA 644:4, II, which covers electronic transmissions sent by computer. Stalking is a class A misdemeanor, or a class B felony for a repeat offense within seven years, and victims can also file a civil petition for a stalking protective order.
Online harassment
RSA 644:4 makes harassment a misdemeanor, including repeated communications at extremely inconvenient hours or in offensively coarse language meant to annoy or alarm, and communicating threats to a person's life or safety to annoy or alarm. The law defines communicating to include electronic transmissions sent from a computer, and the offense can be prosecuted where the message was sent or where it was received.
Intimate images shared without consent
RSA 644:9-a makes it a class B felony to share an identifiable person's private sexual image, without consent, with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce them. Since January 1, 2025, the law also covers realistic synthetic images, such as deepfakes, that falsely depict a recognizable person's intimate parts or sexual acts. The law does not make online platforms liable solely for content posted by others.
03Data protection and the right to have content removed
New Hampshire's consumer privacy law (RSA 507-H), in effect since January 1, 2025, lets consumers ask covered businesses to confirm, access, correct and delete personal data provided by or obtained about them, and to opt out of targeted advertising, data sales and certain profiling. Businesses must respond within 45 days, which can be extended once by another 45 days when reasonably necessary. It applies to businesses that, in a year, handled personal data of at least 35,000 consumers, or of at least 10,000 consumers while earning more than 25% of gross revenue from selling personal data; government bodies, nonprofits and some other entities are excluded.
Sources15N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507-H:416N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507-H:217N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507-H:3
04How to remove defamatory content in New Hampshire
How to remove defamatory content in New Hampshire
A lawsuit is one route, but it is slow, costly and public. Much harmful content can come down sooner through the platform’s own reporting process, a legal notice to the site owner or host, or a removal request to search engines. The right route depends on where the content lives and on the law that applies to it.
Media Removal reviews each case and recommends the fastest route that fits it. Removal always depends on each platform and, where relevant, the courts.
05Frequently asked questions about defamation in New Hampshire
How long do you have to sue for defamation in New Hampshire?
Under RSA 508:4, II, libel and slander claims generally must be filed within three years of the time the claim accrued, unless another law sets a different deadline. A lawyer can confirm how the deadline applies to a specific case.
Is defamation a crime in New Hampshire?
It can be. RSA 644:11 makes purposely spreading information you know is false, and know will expose another living person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, a class B misdemeanor. That offense can lead to a fine but not jail. Most defamation disputes are handled as civil lawsuits.
Does New Hampshire have an anti-SLAPP law?
No. In 1994 the state Supreme Court advised that a proposed special motion to strike would violate the right to a jury trial. Under RSA 507:15, a court may still award reasonable costs and attorney's fees plus $1,000 when it finds a lawsuit frivolous or meant to harass or intimidate.
Is it illegal to share someone's intimate images online in New Hampshire?
Yes, in many cases. Sharing an identifiable person's private sexual image without consent, with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce them, is a class B felony, and since January 1, 2025 the law also covers realistic fake images such as deepfakes.
Can I ask a company to delete my personal data in New Hampshire?
Since January 1, 2025, the state privacy law lets consumers ask covered businesses to delete personal data provided by or obtained about them. It applies only to businesses that meet the law's size thresholds, and nonprofits, government bodies and some other entities are excluded.
06Defamation laws in nearby states
07Sources
- Pierson v. Hubbard, 147 N.H. 760 (2002)
- Thomas v. Telegraph Publishing Co., 155 N.H. 314 (2007)
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:11
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:2
- Frese v. Formella, No. 21-1068 (1st Cir. Nov. 8, 2022)
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4
- Jones v. Walsh, 107 N.H. 379 (1966)
- Chagnon v. Union-Leader Corp., 103 N.H. 426 (1961)
- Opinion of the Justices (SLAPP Suit Procedure), 138 N.H. 445 (1994)
- RCFP Anti-SLAPP Legal Guide: New Hampshire
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507:15
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 633:3-a
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:4
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:9-a
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507-H:4
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507-H:2
- N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507-H:3