Stefanie Hubig Cracks Down on SLAPP Lawsuits to Safeguard Freedom of Speech
Revised Legislation to Limit Liability for Intimidation Claims, proposed by Hubig.
In a bid to protect individuals and groups from costly and intimidating legal actions aimed at silencing critics or suppressing public opinion, German Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig is introducing a new law known as the anti-SLAPP law. This legal move targets Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) — a tactic often used by influential individuals, governments, or companies to squash unwanted public criticism.
Hubig's draft bill, set to be published this week and already accessible to Funke media group newspapers, seeks to align with the European Union's Anti-SLAPP Directive, adopted in 2024. The draft law plans to create barriers against SLAPPs by introducing procedural safeguards that make it easier to dismiss such cases early, protect defendants from disproportionate burdens (like excessive costs and delays), and offer legal remedies to targets of abusive lawsuits.
The new law stipulates that if the court recognizes an abusive lawsuit, it can impose higher fees on the plaintiff. Additionally, court proceedings aiming to harass or intimidate public figures will be processed more swiftly, and the plaintiff will have to shoulder a greater portion of the defendant's legal costs.
Hubig highlights that the right to file a lawsuit will remain with the anti-SLAPP law, but abusive lawsuits may face stern penalties. This draft bill is a significant step towards ensuring that freedom of opinion and press are not misused to intimidate and exert pressure on public participation, thereby safeguarding the right to free speech.
Three essential aspects of the law include:- Streamlined identification and dismissal of SLAPP cases that aim to silence public conversations rather than address genuine legal claims.- Early dismissal of such cases, thereby shielding defendants from the significant burdens these frivolous lawsuits impose.- Protection and legal support for individuals and groups vulnerable to these abusive legal actions.
The proposed legislation demonstrates Hubig's commitment to upholding freedom of expression and preserving the vitality of public discourse, ensuring it will not be undermined by intimidating legal tactics.
References:- ntv.de- mau
Associated People:- Stefanie Hubig- Federal Ministry of Justice
Related Concepts:- Lawsuits- Freedom of Speech- Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)- European Union Anti-SLAPP Directive- Legal Intimidation Tactics
- Stefanie Hubig's new anti-SLAPP law intends to protect individuals and groups from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), an intimidating tactic used to silence criticism, as outlined in the European Union's Anti-SLAPP Directive.
- The anti-SLAPP law, proposed by German Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, aims to protect defendants from disproportionate burdens, such as excessive costs and delays, associated with abusive lawsuits that threaten freedom of speech.
