SLAPP - wear down and silence critics
"Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are a tactic used by companies and wealthy individuals to weaponise the courts against those who stand up or speak out for the public interest. These lawsuits are not about justice—they are designed to intimidate, silence dissent, and suppress public debate."
https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2024/10/31/anti-slapp-laws
"Greenpeace must pay hundreds of millions over Dakota pipeline protests, says jury.
Non-profit said in statement lawsuits like this aimed at ‘destroying the right to peaceful protest’"
"Legal sources have said the case is a classic example of a Slapp – a form of civil litigation increasingly deployed by corporations, politicians and wealthy individuals to deliberately wear down and silence critics including journalists, activists and watchdog groups. These cases, even when the entities suing lose, cause significant legal costs for defendants and can have a chilling effect."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/greenpeace-lawsuit-energy-transfer-dakota-pipeline
#PublicDebate #SLAPP #HumanRights #law #litigation #FossilFuels #water #StandingRock #ProtectProtest #environment
