I'd say it arguably applies to any sort of lie about a person that's intended to harm that person (e.g., telling someone "your spouse is having an affair" when the teller has no reason to believe that but has an old grudge, or falsely accusing a co-worker of theft). It might even cover some lies that aren't intended as harmful, when the liar could/should have known it was likely to (some baseless customer complaints whose intention is to get a free meal or other compensation from the company, and that could cost the person complained about a promotion or even their job).

It probably doesn't apply to the odd person who was going on at some length to me about having seen cattitude with another woman, because I suspect he thought it was a joke, rather than trying to cause trouble between us.