Which would you rather face for doing your job — jail or bankruptcy?
Our Italian member center IRPI is currently battling multiple SLAPPs — strategic lawsuits against public participation — some in criminal court where if journalists lose, they could go to jail. Reporters can also be sued in civil court, where there is no limit on the amount of damages sought, and losing could mean bankruptcy for small nonprofit investigative journalism outlets like IRPI.
"We get SLAPPed a lot in criminal court. Every two to three weeks we have to go to the police station to sign (papers) because we received a new SLAPP." - Cecilia Anesi, IRPI
Journalists typically win these cases in countries where there is effective rule of law — but not without wasting a lot of time, money, and energy on their defense. And they need resources and vigorous legal representation to defend themselves.
