Cyber Tort Case Study

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Cyber-Torts in the Workplace A tort is recognized as conduct that results in an injury or damages that are legally recognized (Lau & Johnson, 2014). Torts that occur on the Internet are referred to as cyber-torts. In the workplace, there are multiple cyber-torts that employees may commit, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Examples of such cyber-torts are cyber defamation, trespass to chattels, and conversion. Cyber-Defamation Cyber-defamation occurs when something is written about a company that is untrue and defamatory, meaning that it has the ability to damage the company’s reputation (Mew, 2013). Four major elements must be present to prove defamation. First, the statement made must be false and defamatory in nature (Mew, 2013). …show more content…

2). Computer fraud may take several different forms, and misrepresentation can occur in a number of ways (Cornell University Law School, n.d.). For example, an individual may embezzle company funds by changing or deleting input data (Cornell University Law School, n.d.). Other ways in which an individual may create a misrepresentation would be by rewriting, deleting, or changing codes within a computer system (Cornell University Law School, …show more content…

Generally, “a business is liable for the torts committed by an employee who is acting within the scope of his or her employment or an agent who is acting with the authority of the business” (Miller & Jentz, 2010, p. 133). When a corporation is deemed liable for the torts that an employee commits, it is referred to as indirect liability (Lichtman & Posner, 2004). If an employee commits an intentional tort, the corporation is usually not liable unless a court determines that the intentional tort could have been forseen by higher-level employees or directors (National Paralegal College,

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