On October 6, 2023, our counsel Claire Filliatre took part in the "Defamation /SLAPPs: How far does freedom of the press go?" debate at the Press Club of Lyon and its region.

SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) are defined as a form of harassment and intimidation used against those involved in "protecting the public interest". Their purpose is to censor, intimidate and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition.

Panelists also included Mrs. Ilana Cicurel Member of the European Parliament, Mr. Jacques Trentesaux, co-founder and managing editor of Médiacités, and Nicolas Barriquand, editor-in-chief of Médiacités Lyon.

For more information on SLAPPs, please read Claire's article entitled European Commission's call for action to combat SLAPPs against journalists and human right defenders.

To view the full article please click here.