US state guide
This guide is general information about the law in Washington, 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 Washington.
01Defamation law in Washington
Where the law comes from
Washington defamation law comes mainly from court decisions rather than one statute. A plaintiff generally must prove four elements: a false statement, an unprivileged communication of it, fault on the part of the defendant and damages. Statutes add rules on the filing deadline, on requests for correction and on early dismissal of lawsuits that target protected speech.
Sources1Digital Media Law Project, Washington Defamation Law2Rev. Code Wash. § 4.16.1003Rev. Code Wash. chapter 7.96 (Uniform Correction or Clarification of Defamation Act)4Rev. Code Wash. chapter 4.105 (Uniform Public Expression Protection Act)
Is defamation a crime?
Chapter 9.58 RCW, the libel and slander chapter of Washington's criminal code, has been fully repealed: its main criminal libel sections were repealed in 2009, and its remaining sections in 1987 and 2005. False statements that harm reputation are handled through civil lawsuits, while related conduct such as threats, cyber harassment or stalking can still be prosecuted under separate laws.
Sources5Rev. Code Wash. chapter 9.58 dispositions (repealed by 2009 c 88 § 1, 2005 c 13 § 1 and 1987 c 456 § 32)6Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.90.1207Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.46.110
Statute of limitations
A lawsuit for libel or slander must be started within two years. The Washington Supreme Court has adopted the single publication rule, so a single edition or release of a statement is generally treated as one publication when the deadline is counted.
Sources2Rev. Code Wash. § 4.16.100(1)1Digital Media Law Project, Washington Defamation Law (citing Herron v. KING Broad. Co., 746 P.2d 295 (Wash. 1987))
Anti-SLAPP protection
Washington's Uniform Public Expression Protection Act applies to cases filed on or after July 25, 2021. A person sued over speech on a matter of public concern, or over statements made in or about government proceedings, can file a special motion for expedited relief, generally within 60 days after being served; other proceedings between the parties, including discovery, are generally put on hold while it is decided, and the court must dismiss the claim if the plaintiff cannot make a prima facie case or another listed ground applies. A defendant who wins the motion is awarded costs and attorney fees, but only if they gave the plaintiff written notice at least 14 days before filing. The law replaced an earlier anti-SLAPP statute that the Washington Supreme Court struck down in 2015, and a separate statute gives immunity, fees and $10,000 in statutory damages (which a court may deny for bad faith) to people sued over reports to government agencies.
Sources4Rev. Code Wash. chapter 4.105 (Uniform Public Expression Protection Act)8Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Anti-SLAPP Legal Guide: Washington9Davis v. Cox, No. 90233-0 (Wash. 2015)10Rev. Code Wash. § 4.24.510
Retraction and correction
Under Washington's Uniform Correction or Clarification of Defamation Act, which covers publications made on or after July 28, 2013, a person can generally maintain a defamation claim only after making a timely, adequate written request for correction or clarification, or if the publisher has already corrected or clarified the statement; serving a complaint that contains the required details can count as the request. If the publisher makes a sufficient correction in time, generally within 30 days after receiving the request, the plaintiff cannot recover damages for harm to reputation or presumed damages, although other damages allowed by law remain available.
Sources3Rev. Code Wash. chapter 7.96 (Uniform Correction or Clarification of Defamation Act)11Rev. Code Wash. § 7.96.040
Defenses and public figures
Washington courts recognize defenses such as substantial truth, opinion and fair comment, and the fair report privilege for accurate reports of court proceedings and documents filed in them. A private person seeking compensatory damages generally must show the defendant was negligent, while public officials and public figures must prove actual malice, meaning the defendant knew the statement was false or recklessly disregarded whether it was.
02Online harassment, cyberstalking and doxxing in Washington
Cyberstalking
Stalking includes intentionally and repeatedly harassing or following someone, contacting, tracking or monitoring them after being told to stop, or installing a tracking device or tracking software without consent, when it causes substantial emotional distress or reasonable fear of harm. Sending electronic communications counts as contact. Stalking is generally a gross misdemeanor and becomes a class B felony in aggravated cases, such as violating a protective order or having a prior harassment or stalking conviction.
Online harassment
Cyber harassment is sending an electronic communication, with intent to harass or intimidate, that is lewd or obscene, anonymous or repeated, or that threatens bodily injury or property damage in a way that would cause a reasonable person distress or fear. It is a gross misdemeanor, or a class C felony for threats to kill, a prior harassment conviction involving the same victim or violations of a protective order. Washington's general harassment statute also covers threats made through electronic communications.
Sources6Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.90.120 (formerly § 9.61.260)12Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.46.020
Doxxing
Washington lets people sue when someone publishes their personal identifying information without express consent, intending, knowing or recklessly disregarding the risk that it will be used to harm them, and the publication causes physical injury, significant economic injury, mental anguish, fear of serious bodily injury or death, or a substantial disruption to their life. Remedies can include compensatory and punitive damages, $5,000 in statutory damages per violation, attorney fees and an injunction; it is not a defense that the information was already public, but the law has exceptions, including for protected speech and news media.
Intimate images shared without consent
Knowingly disclosing a private intimate image of someone without consent, when the person knew or reasonably should have known it would cause harm, is a gross misdemeanor on a first offense and a class C felony for a repeat offense; a separate crime covers digitally created or altered intimate images. The person depicted can also sue under a civil statute that covers fabricated images and allows the greater of actual damages or up to $10,000 in statutory damages per defendant, plus possible punitive damages, attorney fees and an injunction, generally within four years of discovering the disclosure.
Sources14Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.86.01015Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.86.03016Rev. Code Wash. chapter 7.110 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act)
03Data protection and the right to have content removed
Washington's My Health My Data Act lets consumers ask businesses to delete their consumer health data. The business must respond within 45 days, which it can extend once by another 45 days when reasonably necessary, and it must notify processors and other third parties it shared the data with so they delete it too.
04How to remove defamatory content in Washington
How to remove defamatory content in Washington
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 Washington
How long do you have to sue for defamation in Washington?
Libel and slander lawsuits in Washington generally must be filed within two years. Because deadlines can depend on the facts, it is worth talking to a lawyer early.
Is defamation a crime in Washington?
No. Washington's criminal libel and slander chapter has been fully repealed, with the last sections removed in 2009, so defamation is handled through civil lawsuits. Related conduct such as threats, cyber harassment or stalking can still be prosecuted under separate laws.
Does Washington have an anti-SLAPP law?
Yes. Under the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, a person sued over speech on a matter of public concern can file a special motion for expedited relief, generally within 60 days of being served. A defendant who wins the motion is awarded attorney fees and costs if they gave the required 14-day notice before filing.
Do I have to ask for a correction before suing for defamation in Washington?
Generally yes, for statements published on or after July 28, 2013. Washington's correction statute lets a defamation claim go forward only after a timely written request for correction or clarification, unless the publisher has already corrected it, and a sufficient correction made in time limits the damages available.
Is doxxing illegal in Washington?
Washington lets people sue when someone publishes their personal identifying information without consent, knowing or recklessly disregarding the risk that it will be used to harm them, and the publication causes serious harm. Possible remedies include damages, $5,000 in statutory damages per violation, attorney fees and an injunction, subject to exceptions such as protected speech and news reporting.
06Defamation laws in nearby states
07Sources
- Digital Media Law Project, Washington Defamation Law
- Rev. Code Wash. § 4.16.100
- Rev. Code Wash. chapter 7.96 (Uniform Correction or Clarification of Defamation Act)
- Rev. Code Wash. chapter 4.105 (Uniform Public Expression Protection Act)
- Rev. Code Wash. chapter 9.58 dispositions (repealed by 2009 c 88 § 1, 2005 c 13 § 1 and 1987 c 456 § 32)
- Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.90.120
- Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.46.110
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Anti-SLAPP Legal Guide: Washington
- Davis v. Cox, No. 90233-0 (Wash. 2015)
- Rev. Code Wash. § 4.24.510
- Rev. Code Wash. § 7.96.040
- Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.46.020
- Rev. Code Wash. § 4.24.792
- Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.86.010
- Rev. Code Wash. § 9A.86.030
- Rev. Code Wash. chapter 7.110 (Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act)
- Rev. Code Wash. § 19.373.040