SLAPPs as a Tool to Silence the Press: How Brazil Is Responding to a Growing Threat
Simone Lahorgue Nunes
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) might appear to be a recent legal trend, yet the underlying strategy has existed for decades. Over the past few years, however, their use has intensified across multiple jurisdictions – including Brazil – raising fresh concerns about the resilience of press freedom and the right to information.
SLAPPs are typically filed by powerful individuals or corporations not with the genuine aim of obtaining legal redress, but to harass, intimidate, and exhaust critics through the misuse of the judicial system. Journalists and media organizations are frequent targets. Even when claims ultimately fail, the financial costs, procedural burden, and psychological pressure can be enough to deter investigative reporting and chill public debate.