To save European journalism, we need an anti-SLAPPS directive, 14 July 2020 

When Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally killed in October 2017, there were 47 lawsuits pending against her. They were part of a strategic effort to intimidate her, to deprive her of time and resources, and ultimately to silence her.

These abusive lawsuits are known as “SLAPPs” – Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation – and are used by powerful actors (corporations, public officials, high-profile businesspeople) in an attempt to stop individuals or organisations from expressing critical views on issues of public interest. Journalists, human rights defenders, academics, and civil society organisations are among those who are most often targeted.