United Kingdom - October 2023

First anti-SLAPP measures become law, applicable to economic crime

Economic crime legislation containing new measures targeting strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) received royal assent on 26 October, becoming the first example of anti-SLAPP legislation in the UK. The law gives judges new powers, via an early dismissal process, to reject claims before trial if they are deemed to be an abuse of process or perceived as attempting to silence people speaking out about economic crime. The anti-SLAPP provisions are limited to economic crime only and campaigners including the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition are pushing for further legislation to safeguard freedom of expression in broader areas. The changes are expected to enter into force in early 2024.

Sources: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, UK Parliament, The Guardian (1), The Guardian (2), UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, European Federation of Journalists