Combine the details in this story with the Streisand Effect and the growing realization that suits are a form of class warfare and censorship, and there you have it…
In terms of the causes of the change in libel, look to the Web.
“There’s so much more out there,” said Ms. Bierstedt. “People will feel less offended by that one newspaper or magazine sitting around.”
“There’s a sense that it gets washed away,” said Mr. Karle.
Even if you Google your name and find an offending article, you’ll also find “8,700 other things from the last 10 days, too,” added Mr. Karle.
Finally, media lawyers also said that after years of high expenses and low odds, plaintiffs may have finally figured out that libel suits don’t really work.
