A government-backed amendment expected to be introduced in Parliament tomorrow will make it harder for the rich and powerful to use London’s courts to silence journalists and campaigners, openDemocracy understands.
In a significant development for reporting on corruption, a new provision to the Economic Crime Bill will give UK citizens their first specific protection in law from aggressive legal action known as SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation).
In November, openDemocracy joined forces with over 70 leading editors, publishers, lawyers and journalists to call on the government to make good on its promises to reform the law to protect journalists in the UK from these notorious intimidation lawsuits.
