Ministers crackdown on Slapp legal actions used to silence journalists
Ministers launch crackdown on ‘Slapp’ legal actions used to silence journalists from publishing stories in the public interest
- ‘Slapp’ lawsuits use the threat of costly legal claims to silence journalists
- Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced a taskforce to crackdown on Slapps
Ministers yesterday launched a crackdown on bogus legal actions being used to silence journalists from publishing stories in the public interest.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced a taskforce to assess how best to stop ‘abuse’ of so-called ‘strategic lawsuits against public participation’ (Slapps).
They often involve the threat of costly bogus defamation and breach of privacy claims to halt publication of stories.
Russian oligarchs seeking to silence journalists are among those who have used them.
In a written statement, Ms Frazer told the Commons: ‘Slapps seek to silence investigative journalists, writers and campaigners, often on unfounded defamation and privacy grounds which prevent the publication of information in the public interest.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer (pictured) announced a taskforce to assess how best to stop ‘abuse’ of so-called ‘strategic lawsuits against public participation’ (Slapps)
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will allow Slapps to be thrown out by judges more quickly and place a cap on costs for those targeted
‘This abuse… is used by the wealthy to intimidate and financially exhaust opponents, threatening them with extreme costs for defending a claim and therefore undermining the reporting of important public interest issues.’
The taskforce – with representatives from the Society of Editors, the News Media Association, the National Union of Journalists and the Law Society of England and Wales – will meet bi-monthly.
It will consider non-legislative responses to Slapps targeting journalists and report back to ministers.
Its proposals, if accepted, will complement incoming legislation tackling economic crime-linked Slapps, which cover up to 70 per cent of such cases brought to court.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will allow Slapps to be thrown out by judges more quickly and place a cap on costs for those targeted, making them less effective at strong-arming reporters into abandoning stories.
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