The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) 2024 report on SLAPPs reveals that the use of SLAPP lawsuits to silence those speaking out in the interest of the public good shows no sign of slowing down. The 2024 report found 166 new SLAPPs initiated in 2023. Although there has been progress, with the EU adopting the Anti-SLAPP Directive and CoE Recommendation to combat SLAPPs, the practice remains widespread. Powerful individuals continue to use SLAPPs to stifle journalists and activists, posing a serious threat to democracy and free expression. Countries with the highest recorded SLAPP activity in 2023 include Malta, where SLAPP lawsuits surged due to Freedom of Information cases against investigative journalists, and Croatia, which continued to see a high volume of lawsuits targeting journalists and activists. Georgia also emerged as a hotspot, with numerous cases linked to cross-border litigation and new legislation targeting civil society. In contrast, countries such as Sweden, and Moldova reported fewer cases, despite being newly included in the mapping scope, highlighting regional variations in the prevalence of SLAPPs. The report calls on policymakers, civil society, and media organizations to push for strong anti-SLAPP measures to protect public participation and prevent the erosion of dissent. Read more here.
Source: CASE