The United Kingdom government has thrown its support behind a bill aimed at combating intimidatory Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuits, which stifle free speech and enable corrupt elites to silence journalists and critics with baseless legal claims.

In an effort to avoid being seen as suppressing press freedom, a French firm specializing in economic intelligence and internet influence strategy has decided to suspend legal proceedings against several French media outlets. These legal actions were classified as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

United Kingdom authorities agreed to take a crucial step in cracking down on affluent elites’ exploitation of the legal system in order to silence investigative journalists and campaigners.

KRIK, a Serbian investigative outlet and partner of OCCRP, is facing another lawsuit in response to its report on alleged connections between a Serbian businessman close to President Aleksandar Vučić and a criminal involved in international drug trafficking.

The U.K. Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) warned solicitors not to become engaged in abusive litigation aimed at silencing critics, known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).