"Co-chairs of UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition welcome Government’s action on SLAPPs", 20 July 2022

The co-chairs of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition welcome today’s announcement that the government intends to introduce a package of legislative measures aimed at putting an end to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in the UK.

Noting that many of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition’s recommendations are reflected in the proposals, the co-chairs ... are pleased to see it is a recognised priority to filter SLAPPs out of the court process as quickly as possible...

At the same time, the co-chairs urge the government to be bolder in the measures aimed at tackling SLAPPs. In particular they point to the need for a higher threshold to filter out SLAPPs, the need to reduce and compensate SLAPP targets for the harm caused by the litigation process, and the need for measures – such as punitive damages – to  deter SLAPP litigants from targeting public watchdogs with abusive legal threats and actions...