Malta accounts for nearly one in 10 strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) filed in European courts over the past 14 years.

A new report by the Coalition Against SLAPPS in Europe (CASE) has revealed this new data, with most cases targeting journalists.

Of the 1,049 cases documented between 2010 and 2023, 91 were directed at Malta, many of them targeting Daphne Caruana Galizia, the investigative journalist who exposed corruption and was assassinated in 2017.

SLAPPs are lawsuits designed to silence and intimidate those defending the public interest, particularly journalists and activists.

Malta’s government became the first in the EU to transpose anti-SLAPP legislation in July, but critics argue the measures are insufficient.

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation described the law as “inadequate,” citing its failure to protect against abusive domestic litigation and its lack of alignment with EU recommendations.

The CASE report, released on International Anti-Corruption Day, documented 166 new SLAPP cases across Europe in 2023, with most targeting journalists, media outlets, and activists.

One-third of these cases were related to corruption, while more than 15% focused on environmental issues. The report also highlighted an increasing use of criminal law to intimidate defendants.

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