Lawfare against journalists: Lords Communications Committee to explore what progress has been made on SLAPPs
Friday 3 May 2024
The House of Lords Communications Committee will next week hold two evidence sessions on SLAPPs and what progress has been made on preventing their use to silence journalists and whistle blowers.
The Committee has been looking at the impact of SLAPPs – Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation since 2022 – and has campaigned for the Government to introduce measures to protect journalists and other from aggressive ‘lawfare’ tactics that threaten free speech.
Key points have included stronger legislative protections; higher financial penalties; more action from the regulator; and investigating the use of PR firms to intimidate critics and illicit finance to fund SLAPPs.
The Government has made some progress on introducing new protections against SLAPPs, most recently by backing Wayne David MP’s Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill.
The Committee’s evidence sessions, to be held from 2:30pm on Tuesday 7 May, will explore what has improved and what more needs to be done.
Giving evidence to the Committee will be:
2:30pm
- Susan Coughtrie, Director at Foreign Policy Centre
- Sayra Tekin, Director of Legal at News Media Association
- Fiona O'Brien, UK Bureau Director at Reporters Without Borders
- David Hooper, author and media lawyer
3:30pm
- Paul Philip, Chief Executive Officer, Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Juliet Oliver, General Counsel, Solicitors Regulation Authority
The first session will explore how the use of SLAPPs and other threats to the security of journalists have developed; the potential benefits and shortcoming of the Anti-SLAPPs Bill currently at Committee Stage in the House of Commons; and non-legislative action – particularly around the physical safety of journalists following assassination threats from foreign states.
In the second session the Committee will quiz the Solicitors Regulation Authority on its record in regulating solicitors over SLAPPs; the adequacy of their investigations and outcomes; and what more they can do to tackle the abuse of the UK’s legal system.
