Thread by @skcoughtrie

#SLAPPs 🧵: Deputy PM @DominicRaab is due to announce TODAY a consultation (open till 19 May) on proposals to address SLAPPs in the #UK, in order to prevent the misuse of laws to suppress acts of public participation 1/ independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

This goes further than the expected announcement for a 'call for evidence' that was rumoured a week ago, when Foreign Secretary @trussliz also reportedly "told government lawyers to “find literally any way” to crack down on #SLAPPs" 2/ theguardian.com/world/2022/mar…

The proposals up for consultation are understood to range from strengthening legislation to introducing new court checks. Possible measures would enable courts to throw out #SLAPP claims earlier in proceedings & impose Civil Restraint Orders to stop repeated legal challenges. 3/

The UK Anti-SLAPP coalition (co-chaired by myself @FPCThinkTank, @jessicanimhain @IndexCensorship + @holt_charlie @englishpen) has been calling for such anti-SLAPP measures, first publishing a policy paper signed by 22 NGOs in July 2021. See it here➡️fpc.org.uk/wp-content/upl…. 4/

We launched more concrete proposals for procedural reform in November 2021 at the first UK anti-SLAPP conference, organised by @FPCThinkTank + @JFJfund. These pointed to a need for a UK Anti-SLAPP Law ➡️ fpc.org.uk/wp-content/upl… 5/

The conference brought together 40+ speakers from almost 20 countries, who highlighted the commonalities of the #SLAPP experience & described how w/ the misuse of lengthy, costly & often numerous legal challenges are used to 'punish' those speaking out anti-slappconference.info 6/

It is the #UK though that is of notable concern for #SLAPP w/ @FPC's 2020 global survey of 63 investigative reporters in 41 countries identifying the #UK as the leading intl. source of legal threats against those uncovering financial crime & corruption fpc.org.uk/publications/u… 7/

In January 2022, @DavidDavisMP & @liambyrnemp co-sponsored a Parliamentary debate on 'Lawfare & the UK Court System' which highlighted the #SLAPP cases against journals incl. @CatherineBelton @tomburgis @carolecadwalla & Paul Radu (@IDashboard). 📺➡️parliamentlive.tv/event/index/47… 8/

Here @liambyrnemp outlines how #SLAPPs work so well, are particularly a favoured tactic of oligarchs & kleptocrats, & the wider impact on our society - stating "we are letting them murder the truth in English courts" 9/

https://twitter.com/liambyrnemp/status/1484215852132188160

It's well worth watching the full debate, w/ MPs from across parties speaking out strongly incl. @IoWBobSeely @hammersmithandy who have cont'd to raise #SLAPPs in @HouseofCommons in recent weeks. As have Lord Thomas & Lord Cromwell in @UKHouseofLords bit.ly/3w9T9Lb. 10/

Media lawyers like Caroline Kean @WigginLLP, who defended @HarperCollinsUK & journalists @CatherineBelton & @tomburgis in the SLAPP cases linked to their books #PutinsPeople & #Kleptopia, have also spoken out on why we need change ⤵️ 11/ thetimes.co.uk/article/its-ti…

While @RewcastleBrown @Sarawark (who has been subject to many legal threats) recently responded to the #accesstojustice argument often invoked when discussing anti-#SLAPP initiatives, by asking if 'Everyone is Entitled to A Reputation Lawyer?' 12/ sarawakreport.org/2022/03/still-…

At the start of March 2022, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (@sra_solicitors) released updated guidance on Conduct in Disputes, which acknowledged the issue of #SLAPPs for the first time. The full guidance is here ➡️sra.org.uk/solicitors/gui… 13/

This week I gave oral evidence on #SLAPPs along with @CatherineBelton @tomburgis + @ArabellaPike @HarperCollinsUK to @CommonsForeign

https://twitter.com/CommonsForeign/status/1503746727236542467

14/

Their cases are over but others are still ongoing (incl. @carolecadwalla, @ScottMStedman @forensicnewsnet @peragerman + Annelie Östlund @realtid). The cases that reach court are however just the tip of the iceberg, if successful these threats may never reach the public domain 15/

We know a lot more about the hidden problem of legal intimidation thanks to journalists speaking out incl. @NickCohen4 @martinbright @edwardlucas @wildfranz @PeterKGeoghegan @OliverBullough @mcaruanagalizia @muscatcar @TimesONeill to name a few - all with lived experience. 16/

The interest in #SLAPPs has been brought into sharp focus by the Russian invasion into Ukraine. But the problem is wider than Russian kleptocracy. Hopefully media will use this @MoJGovUK call for consultation to fully surface the issue & help future reforms to be effective. 17/

If you have got to this point & are wanting more information about what #SLAPPs are, I recommend checking out anti-slappconferenc.info for more resources, as well as watching this 'What is a SLAPP?' explainer by @IndexCensorship . 18/

And this recent video by @lanaestemirova 'SLAPPs: What's next?' @JFJfund ft @rebecca_vincent @RSF_inter talking about @carolecadwalla's trial, @ScottMStedman on the case against him & @forensicnewsnet, & me about efforts to address #SLAPPs in the UK. 19/

Last, but by no means least, if you think you have been the subject of a #SLAPP - check out @IndexCensorship's 'Am I facing a SLAPP' toolkit (indexoncensorship.org/am-i-facing-a-…) & report your case to @CASECoalition. 20/ ENDS.

*anti-slappconference.info 👇