UK anti-SLAPPs initiatives
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The government of the UK intends to introduce a package of legislative measures aimed at putting an end to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) against journalists. Civil society organisations welcome the initiative, but call for bolder measures to tackle abusive lawsuits against human rights defenders.
On 26 October 2023, the UK Parliament passed the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECB2), which includes the first anti-SLAPP provision in UK law, but is limited to speaking out on economic crimes.
On 16 June 2026, the UK Parliament introduced the Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill which would greatly broaden the scope of anti-SLAPP protections from beyond economic crimes.