Minister slaps down SLAPP amendments meant to protect journalists

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici on Monday afternoon argued that anti-SLAPP amendments could not be made to the new Media and Defamation Bill because they violated EU rules. SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) lawsuits are designed to silence and intimidate journalists, often by burdening them with lawsuits in foreign jurisdictions.  In presenting the amendments, in the parliamentary committee for consideration of bills, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi said they were aimed at protecting journalists from “forum-shopped” foreign lawsuits where it would be prohibitively expensive for the journalists to defend themselves. He cited as an example the case instituted by Pilatus Bank against s;ain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Arizona last May, and threats of legal action made by British-based Shillings Group, also on behalf of Pilatus Bank, against local media houses last October. READ: No word on Labour support for anti-SLAPP Bill In the Arizona lawsuit, Pilatus Bank had been seeking $40 million in damages from Ms Caruana Galizia. Arguing that the amendment did not in any way prejudice the right of any individual or entity to bring accusations of libel against...