Stand up for the brave people who stand up for us!

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Stand up for the brave people who stand up for us!

It’s time to show our support for public watchdogs and name and shame abusers – wealthy and powerful politicians, business people and corporations who weaponise the law to muzzle, intimidate and silence journalists and undermine press freedom. Don’t let them get away with it.

Put on a shiny blazer, add some brilliantine to your hair and join us in unmasking the worst legal offenders in 2023 and their malicious attempts to stifle freedom of expression. The European SLAPP Contest is back, and voting is underway.

Polls close on 6 February at 15:00 CET.

Vote Now

The European SLAPP Contest takes stock of the most egregious lawsuits – including Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (known as SLAPPs) – to persecute journalists and activists who unearth critical issues of public interest. Join ARTICLE 19 and the CASE Coalition in our campaign to put an end to these attacks and support the incredible journalists and activists who work so hard to bring vital information to our societies.

The People’s Choice Award will determine the ultimate bully of the year. Vote now!

Deadline to cast your vote: 6 February at 15:00 CET.

In the running…

SLAPP bully of the year:

Giorgia Meloni (Italy)
Before she became prime minister in 2022, Meloni sued celebrated author and journalist Roberto Saviano after he called out her inflammatory language as Italy faced a devastating migrant emergency. Meloni has also brought lawsuits against newspaper Domani Giornale journalists and a member of the band Placebo for insulting her.

Davit Patsatsia (Georgia)
The Minister for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) filed a SLAPP against TV Pirvell after it linked him to improper spending during a project to repair and renovate housing for IDPs – a clear misuse of funds allocated for the public good and a blatant failure to improve the lives of vulnerable people.

Djana Hrkalovic (Serbia)
The ex-Interior Ministry official launched a lawsuit against journalist Stevan Dojčinović and the investigative outlet KRIK, known for its powerful exposés of corruption in Serbia, in retaliation for reporting on her links with criminals. This is the 11th lawsuit against KRIK. (see video for more info)

SLAPPS in Europe | Unmasking the truth Jelena

SLAPP country of the year

In Croatia, there are at least 945 active lawsuits against the media and journalists, with over 5.4 million euros claimed in damages, according to data collected by the Croatian Journalists’ Association.

In Malta, 6 and a half years on from her murder, full justice for journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, killed for her tireless work exposing corruption and financial crimes, remains elusive. At the time of her death, she was facing 43 civil and five criminal libel suits, including cases lodged by former prime minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle. Years on, why has so little changed? In 2023, Malta had the highest number of SLAPPs per capita in the European Union, with 44 new lawsuits recorded in 2022 alone.

In Poland, defamation remains a criminal offence, with the outgoing government using SLAPPs to weaken public watchdogs. Poland’s second-largest daily, Gazeta Wyborcza, is currently facing approximately 100 lawsuits for its vital public interest reporting, including about fraud, the former government’s overhaul of the judiciary, and the Pegasus spyware scandal. The former minister of justice personally lodged many cases himself.

Plus: Corporate bully of the year, farcical threat of the year...and those international bullies who know no bounds (or borders).

Starring:

– Stephen Rae, the former editor for Independent News & Media with huge enthusiasm for SLAPPs, and a staggering willingness to reject the values of the journalism community.

– Fuel giant TotalEnergies and its legal attacks on French investigative website Mediapart for reports on greenwashing.

– Eylau Capital’s legal threats against journalist Véronique Poujol and Luxembourg-based outlet Reporter following reports into fraud.

– Gaz System and its legal campaign against Polish environmental activist Nawojka Ciborska.

– Insurance company Lev Ins and a 500,000-euro SLAPP suit against Bulgarian fact-checking news website Mediapool.

– SPAR and its efforts to punish the Austrian group Association Against Animal Factories with a case mounted in retaliation for organising protests.

– Bornito de Sousa, a former minister and former vice-president of Angola, and his SLAPP attack against Portuguese anti-corruption activist Paulo de Morais and renowned journalist Oliver Bullough.

– Canadian property firm SAKTO and its directors’ legal battle against human rights and environmental organisation Bruno Manser Fonds.

Read more about the bullies doing their best to silence independent public interest reporting and clever activism.

Take action now, and join ARTICLE 19 and the freedom of expression community in sending a clear message to those who use the law to silence.

We must stop these bullies. Will you use your voice to call out this abuse?

Vote for the #PeoplesChoiceAward by 6 February at 15:00 CET. The 'winners' will be announced the same day.

Who will you vote for?

CASE is a coalition of non-governmental organisations from across Europe united in recognition of the threat posed to public watchdogs by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

Thanks, as ever, for your support.

From all of us at ARTICLE 19

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