Simply stating a false fact about a person, by itself, isn't enough to trigger liability. I don't think misstatement of a person's height is per se defamatory; the plaintiff will have to prove damages (as well as prove Google acted at least negligently).
That's my understanding. Also, particularly with public figures, the entity making the defamatory statement has to have known (or a reasonable person would have known) that the statement was false.
But as you say, it's very hard to see how saying someone is shorter than they are is defamatory in the first place. There would have to be some additional circumstance that makes such innocuous misinformation damaging.
[IAAL but this is not legal advice.]
Simply stating a false fact about a person, by itself, isn't enough to trigger liability. I don't think misstatement of a person's height is per se defamatory; the plaintiff will have to prove damages (as well as prove Google acted at least negligently).
That's my understanding. Also, particularly with public figures, the entity making the defamatory statement has to have known (or a reasonable person would have known) that the statement was false.
But as you say, it's very hard to see how saying someone is shorter than they are is defamatory in the first place. There would have to be some additional circumstance that makes such innocuous misinformation damaging.
there's nothing wrong with being short
The DMV isn't exactly validating heights, I think we need more evidence.