Investigative reporting is the most difficult in the field of journalism, as the journalist faces individuals, institutions, and even systems with strong influence, but what makes the task of the investigative journalist more difficult is the laws used by those in power against him, so what do you know about the well-known "Slap" law in Britain?
As soon as the investigative journalist publishes or broadcasts his media material, revealing the names of the influential, defamation lawsuits are ready for him, and one of the most famous of these judicial weapons is the "SLAB" law in the United Kingdom, which means "strategic lawsuit against public participation", and it is a detailed lawsuit to measure journalists And academics and activists with the aim of intimidating and deterring them, according to what opponents of this law say.
During the past years, London has turned into an incubator for "SLAB" lawsuits, which burden the journalist financially due to the exorbitant costs of lawyers and threaten his professional and social future.
And the “Al-Marsad” program (30/1/2023) continued in its story the details of this controversial law, which enables the influential and wealthy - even if they are outside Britain - to file cases before its courts as long as the publication or broadcast took place on its lands.
According to press freedom advocates, the "Slap" law is a tool of intimidation encapsulated in a legal framework, as cases are filed by influential people who have been affected by press investigations related to the public interest. The law usually targets journalists individually;
Because it is easier to stand alone with one person than to confront his entire media organization.
There is another tactic practiced by lawyers of influential personalities, the more difficult and expensive the case is for the defendant, the better for the plaintiff, and this explains why London has become a preferred destination for filing "SLAB" cases.
For many investigative journalists, SLAP action is an urgent need for them, especially in a country like the UK, where many cases are filed against them, and SLAB cases are a very effective tool for legal prosecution.
This is because they trap journalists in quicksand, and send direct messages to other journalists who might be considering doing the same type of investigation, and the point is: don't bother, you'll only get trouble.
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On the experience of journalists with this law, investigative journalist Paul Radu recounted his experience when working on an investigative investigation in which he revealed a huge money laundering project in Azerbaijan worth about $3 billion, and after investigating the case it was discovered that a large part of this money was paid to European politicians to improve Image of Azerbaijan in Europe.
As a result of this investigation, a case was filed against him by an Azerbaijani citizen and a Romanian citizen residing in the Azerbaijani capital, but the court was in London, United Kingdom, where Radu indicated that he then realized the difficult path of the "SLAB" law.
Media litigation specialist Caroline Kane explained that the "SLAB" law is designed to counter comment on issues related to the public interest, and through it foreign press can be sued before British courts that will have jurisdiction over defamation cases.
On the financial side, she indicated that defamation cases are very expensive, as the wealthy have hired very expensive and smart law firms, not only to put their cases under the microscope, but also to manage and analyze data and use public relations companies to improve the reputation of their agent in front of public opinion.