Legal

Firms taking SLAPP lawsuits should be ‘named and shamed’ - Mary Lawlor

UN’s special rapporteur on human rights defenders says strategic litigation against public participation increasingly favoured by businesses and politicians looking to “censor, intimidate, and silence critics”

Mary Lawlor: “The ability of business to shut down scrutiny and stifle debate by using its resources to abuse the court system is a deeply worrying.” Picture: RollingNews.ie

Businesses and law firms who take lawsuits to restrict free speech through so-called ‘strategic litigation against public participation’ (SLAPPs) should be “named and shamed”, according a UN special rapporteur.

Mary Lawlor, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights defenders, will give a keynote speech tomorrow at a conference focused law suits designed to frustrate and chill free speech.

SLAPPs have become an increasingly favoured tactic by businesses and politicians looking to “censor, intimidate, and silence ...