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Malta Journalists’ Institute Is Calling For A Crucial Change To Proposed Press Law

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Maltese journalists at a protest in the wake of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination 

A bill to update Malta’s press laws has been in the pipeline for quite some time and is expected to pass early next year. However, the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) has now called on Parliament to add a last-minute change to the law so as to make it illegal for companies to sue Maltese journalists abroad.

IGM’s president Norma Saliba was contacted by Newsbook following threats by Pilatus Bank and Henley & Partners to sue several Maltese houses in the United States – where libel fees run in the millions – if they do not remove certain articles. Most media houses complied, but The Shift News – a new online news portal – fought back by publishing the threat it had received from Henley & Partners, the concessionaires of Malta’s citizenship-for-money scheme. 

Norma Saliba’s response was unequivocal. 

“We urge the government and opposition to update the Media and Defamation Act to include clauses against these so-called SLAPP lawsuits,” she said. “The IGM is seriously concerned about the implications of SLAPP lawsuits and has expressed its concern with both the government and Opposition.”

Questions sent by Lovin Malta yesterday to justice minister Owen Bonnici and PN leader Adrian Delia on their views on SLAPP legislation remain unanswered as of the time of writing.

Do you think SLAPP legislation should be outlawed in Malta? 

READ NEXT: 11 Major Issues That Will Shape Malta In 2018 And Beyond

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]

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