What does criminal libel require in terms of intent?

Criminal libel indeed requires malice in the making of the statement, which means that the person making the defamatory statement must do so with the knowledge that it is false or with reckless disregard for the truth. This malice can be thought of as a specific intent to harm someone’s reputation through false statements.

In the context of criminal libel, the standard is higher than mere negligence or general intent; the accusation must stem from a purposeful action that undermines someone else's character or integrity. This creates a legal basis for holding someone accountable for knowingly spreading false information.

In contrast, other options like general intent to harm or negligent conduct do not adequately capture the requirement for malice. General intent does not necessitate knowledge of the falsehood, while negligence lacks the conscious intent to harm, which is crucial for establishing criminal libel. The option regarding intent to promote the truth is irrelevant, as promoting the truth does not apply to criminal libel, which deals with knowingly false statements meant to tarnish an individual’s reputation. Thus, recognizing the requirement of malice aligns with the principles governing the offense of criminal libel.