defamation libel slander
Can private text messages be considered defamation in Canada?
<p>I've had long chats via text messages with a friend, where I accused other people of sexually assaulting me (which was true, but I have no way of proving it really...), and mocking other people with insults (opinionated remarks only). My friendship with this person has recently gone sour, and I'm worried that she is going to use these text messages to hurt me in some way. I read here that defamation can be a criminal offense:</p>
<p><a href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-298.html#:%7E:text=298%20(1)%20A%20defamatory%20libel,concerning%20whom%20it%20is%20published" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-298.html#:~:text=298%20(1)%20A%20defamatory%20libel,concerning%20whom%20it%20is%20published</a>.</p>
<p>It mentions &quot;published&quot;, but I don't know if private text messages are considered something that is &quot;published&quot;?</p>
<p>Can I go to jail for any of this? Or be sued if she passes it to them?</p>

<p>§299 says that</p>
<p>A person publishes a libel when he</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(a) exhibits it in public;</p>
<p>(b) causes it to be read or seen; or</p>
<p>(c) shows or delivers it, or causes it to be shown or delivered, with
intent that it should be read or seen by any person other than the
person whom it defames.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Publish does not mean just &quot;get printed in a newspaper of general circulation&quot;, it includes &quot;writing in a text message to a third person&quot;, i.e. a person other than the one whom you defame.</p>
