Received complaint for defamation - what to do?

The offense of so-called defamation (§ 186 StGB) concerns factual claims about another person that are likely to damage their reputation or devalue them in public opinion – for example in private settings, at the workplace or online (social media, reviews, group chats).

The decisive factor is often the distinction between a verifiable (i.e., provable) factual claim and a (permissible) expression of opinion. Equally relevant are the wording, context (e.g., argument/provocation), audience (1:1 message vs. group chat vs. public), reach/dissemination, and whether statements were passed on as a quote ("hearsay"). If you have received a complaint, a police hearing or a summons for defamation, the question also arises of how the procedure proceeds (hearing, investigation, decision of the public prosecutor), what typical consequences are possible (e.g., fine, conditions, registration issues depending on the outcome) and which mistakes you should avoid (e.g., premature statements without knowledge of the files, deletions/changes without backup, inconsiderate contact).
iust.ai does not provide individual case review but offers typical procedures and legal foundations and gives guidance on when legal support is particularly advisable. This way you can make well-informed decisions about which next steps make sense.