An investigation into the chilling effect of abusive lawsuits targeting everyone who speaks out
WHAT IS A SLAPP?
The focus of this project is to provide an insight into the extent to which public watchdogs, including journalists, academics, environmental defenders, community groups and sexual abuse survivors, are being targeted by abusive legal actions and threats known as SLAPPs – strategic lawsuit against public participation.
SLAPPs are used by powerful actors (including corporations, public officials, high-profile businesspeople) in an attempt to stop individuals or organisations from expressing critical views on issues of public interest. Although they are disguised as ordinary civil claims, such as defamation or privacy, they are not intended to succeed in court. Instead, their goal is to saddle critics with prohibitively expensive, time-consuming, and nerve-wracking legal processes.
SLAPPs threaten not only freedom of expression, but access to information, rule of law, and our very democracy.
UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, of which Index is co-chair, launches campaign as Parliament delays establishing anti-SLAPP protections
Editors, journalists, lawyers and academics write to Dominic Raab to express support for the Model UK Anti-SLAPP Law launched by the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition
Advancing robust protection against SLAPPs within the parameters of the MOJ’s proposed legislative framework
Six journalists speak about the legal efforts to silence them over their reporting
Tell the government to stop the rich and powerful
ruining the lives of those who speak up
WHAT OTHERS SAY ON SLAPPS
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Britain’s legal system silences sexual assault victims
The Brand allegations highlight how British courts can be used by the rich and powerful to silence the victims of sexual assault
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Over 60 editors, journalists, writers, publishers and experts call on the UK Government to commit to a standalone anti-SLAPP law
The UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, of which Index is a co-chair, has co-ordinated and sent a letter to the Government ahead of the King's Speech on 7 November
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SLAPPS: A Threat to Our Freedom of Expression and Our Democracy
Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are brought by powerful and wealthy entities against public watchdogs in an effort to compel them to withhold or remove critical coverage, even if it is accurate and in the public interest. ...
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Index condemns lawsuit against Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins
21 organisations say lawsuit issued by Russian oligarch Yevgeniy Prigozhin is a SLAPP
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Daphne Caruana Galizia: Four years on from her murder, Malta must be held to account
Index joins the Maltese community, Reporters without Borders, PEN International and others to mark grim anniversary
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Index condemns lawsuits brought by ENRC against Tom Burgis
We join with 14 other organisations to condemn legal action against the journalist, the Financial Times and HarperCollins in London
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Index and 21 other organisations condemn lawsuits brought by ENRC against public watchdogs
Lawsuits represent an egregious attempt to curtail freedom of expression and jeopardise anti-corruption efforts
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Contents – China’s global brand: a century of silencing dissent
Index looks back on 100 years of the Chinese Communist Party and how their censorship laws continue to shape the lives of people around the world and threaten their right to free speech. Inside this edition are articles by exiled writer Ma Jian an...
