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Intimidation Lawsuits: New Law Protects Our Voices!
The federal government is planning new laws to protect critical voices from intimidation lawsuits in order to strengthen freedom of expression.
Intimidation Lawsuits: New Law Protects Our Voices!
A groundbreaking reform of the justice system is currently being debated in Cologne, which is intended to strengthen the position of journalists, scientists and NGOs in particular. The federal government has passed a draft law that is intended to make intimidation lawsuits more difficult in the future. According to [Radio Ennepe Ruhr](https://www.radioenneperuhr.de/artikel/einschuechterungs Klages-sollen-teuer- Werden-2359257.html), such lawsuits are often unfounded and designed to silence critical voices in public opinion.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig emphasizes the importance of critical reporting and civil society commitment to democracy. “We have to ensure that a lively discussion is possible in our country without those involved having to fear legal disputes,” said Hubig. The new draft is intended to better protect public statements in particular, such as taking part in demonstrations or publishing articles.
Intimidation lawsuits targeted
This reform is part of a broader European approach. The EU Parliament recently passed a new law protecting individuals and organizations from unfounded lawsuits by 546 votes to 47 and 31 abstentions. In this context, Europarl reports that the protective mechanisms include the fact that lawsuits can be dismissed early and plaintiffs have to bear the procedural costs in the event of abuse.
A particularly critical point in the proposed law is that lawsuits against people who engage in public activities will become more expensive in the future. Affected plaintiffs could be required to provide security for the defendants' anticipated costs. In addition, the defendant's legal fees should be reimbursed to a greater extent in order to provide relief for them.
A protective shield for committed voices
This initiative is no coincidence. In recent years, strategic lawsuits against public participation, also known as SLAPP lawsuits, have proliferated. The new legal situation should make it more difficult to use such lawsuits as a means of pressure against critics. All final judgments on these lawsuits will soon be published, which promises additional transparency. In addition, decisions in second and third instance must be published anonymously in order to protect the privacy of those affected.
Overall, it is expected that this draft law will be welcomed not only by the federal government, but also by various associations. They have until August to comment on the plans. The bill is then submitted to the cabinet for approval before the Bundestag decides on it. This sends a strong signal for freedom of expression in Germany.