What Insurance Covers Defamation?
General liability personal-and-advertising-injury or media liability may cover some defamation claims, depending on the statement, activity, and exclusions.
The NAIC-published study discusses defamation under general liability Coverage B’s enumerated publication offenses; media liability may also fit businesses that publish or create content.
Ask whether your policy covers the channels where you publish and whether it excludes internet or media businesses, knowing falsity, or content published before the policy period. The alleged offense and requested remedy also affect how the claim is treated.
Coverage Guides Related to Business Insurance
Sources for Business Insurance Answers
- Insurance for Social Media Liability. Journal of Insurance Regulation; authors Kevin T. Merriman, David M. Knapp, Meghan E. Ruesch and Nicole M. Weir; PDF pp.5–7, Coverage B personal and advertising injury; pp.20–21, standard offense wording; pp.35–37, exclusions for false advertising and intellectual property infringement. Accessed 2026-09-25.