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Greetings from Sarajevo,
From Guatemala to South Africa, governments around the world are taking action based on our investigative reporting. But first, we wanted to share a new article in the Guardian highlighting one of the biggest threats to the investigative journalism — what our publisher calls “the worst law on earth.”
We’re referring to British libel law, the preferred weapon of global elites looking to silence journalists who dig into their affairs. Unlike in many other Western countries, in the U.K. the defendant has the burden of proving that their published material was true.
Because the U.K. is a global hub for dirty money and the ultra-rich often maintain residences in London, journalists can be taken to court in the U.K. over investigations that have nothing to do with Britain. And going to court is expensive, even when the claim in dispute is obviously accurate.
As a result, journalists worldwide, including those in the OCCRP network, often receive emails from British reputation lawyers threatening libel claims. Litigation in a U.K. court can be expensive and drag on for years, a daunting prospect for journalists. Even the prospect of being sued for libel often discourages reporters from publishing certain stories, many told the Guardian. That’s why such lawsuits are known as “strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs.
Give the Guardian article a read if you’re interested in learning more about SLAPPs and how British law enables them.
For possible solutions, check out what the EU is doing. In April, it proposed a directive that could punish those who file frivolous libel claims.
Now, for the latest in global crime and corruption:
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