Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)
Overview
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation – commonly referred to as SLAPPs – have been widely recognised as a growing threat to freedom of expression and particularly, but not only, to civil society actors such as journalists, academics, environmental defenders, and authors.
SLAPPs are lawsuits or threats of legal action that engage abusive litigation tactics in proceedings which concern public participation on matters of public interest. Abusive litigation tactics take many forms, including making exaggerated or unfounded claims for damages, amending or withdrawing claims or pleadings, exploiting appeals procedures, or initiating multiple proceedings (sometimes in multiple jurisdictions).
This consultation will enable the Scottish Government to draw on the views and experience of stakeholders so that we can form a view on the best way forward for Scotland.
Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.
On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).
Why your views matter
Consultation responses will be collated and used to inform the development of any future proposals. A formal Scottish Government response to the consultation will be published in due course, setting out the conclusions drawn and next steps.
Give us your views
Interests
- Communities and Third Sector
- Law and Order
- Main hub
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