The EU Anti-SLAPP Directive – Betrayal of an Idea?
By Satyajit Sarna. Broadly speaking, SLAPPs are lawsuits or other legal actions which are filed with the primary motive of intimidating and harassing journalists and activists and thereby stifling criticism of claimants, who are often politically influential and economically powerful, including major corporations. Most frequently, they are framed as defamation suits or actions against the invasion of privacy. Now, the European Commission is proposing a revisioned draft of its Anti-SLAPP legislation.