The government has promised to stop Russian oligarchs from “abusing” English and Welsh courts to silence critics.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab is to make proposals to “protect our free press” and end the “bullying” of journalists and activists.
Super-rich individuals are increasingly using lawsuits to threaten those trying to expose wrongdoing, he said.
It comes after Labor urged the Government to stop wealthy individuals from “gagging” the UK media.
On Thursday, Mr Raab will launch a consultation on plans to take legal action against so-called “strategic lawsuits against public participation” – known as slapps – designed to shut down critics.
- Journalist wins book defamation case “Kleptokrat”
- Northern Ireland’s proposed defamation law comes a step closer
- Review of Scottish Defamation Act
The Justice Department said such lawsuits are increasingly being used by wealthy individuals or companies to quash criticism from journalists, authors and activists by threatening costly lawsuits under defamation and privacy laws.
The department said among the measures under consideration are changes to the defamation law to strengthen the defense of the public interest.
This is to protect those who post private information in the public interest.
The government is also considering capping the legal costs that applicants can seek, or requiring those who sue to prove “actual malice” in defamation cases to put a stop to false claims.
Other measures could enable courts to dismiss claims found to be using such tactics earlier in the process, or impose prohibitions — known as civil injunctions — to prevent repeat legal challenges.
The Government has opened a consultation on the plans, which would affect courts in England and Wales, with the next steps to be announced after the consultation closes on May 19.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own defamation and defamation laws, which are also reviewed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the threat of legal action had become a “new breed of litigation” for the “oligarchs and the super-rich who can afford these sky-high costs”.
He added that ministers must stop the “deterrent effect” on journalists and called freedom of the press “fundamental to our democracy”.
Mr Raab, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said: “The government will not tolerate Russian oligarchs and other corrupt elites abusing British courts to muzzle those who shed light on their wrongdoing.”
The National Union of Journalists welcomed news of the consultation, adding that it will study the details of the government’s proposals.
NUJ Secretary-General Michelle Stanistreet added: “For too long the super-rich have gotten away with using the law to harass journalists and undermine media freedom.”
Dawn Alford, chief executive of the Society of Editors, said “essential” laws have been strengthened to ensure journalists, authors, activists and academics “can fulfill their role of keeping the public informed without fear of intimidation or harassment “.
Add Comment