Press Freedom Under Threat in Europe: SLAPPs and Democracy

Abstract

This paper critically examines the legal systems of European countries and their relationship to press freedom, particularly the vexatious legal threats used by government officials and corporations to silence journalists. These legal threats are known as SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation) and their use has increased exponentially in the last decade. Although the issue is global, this research analyzes the issue through the lens of Greece, Italy, and Hungary. As member states, each one of these countries has an obligation to uphold the democratic standards put forth by the EU. Journalists are a vital aspect of the democratic process and are protected by both domestic and international laws. Corruption within democratic governments is on the rise, and the inability of European countries to recognize and prevent these attacks against journalists is cause for increasing concern. This paper aims to answer the question of whether current domestic and international law is being enforced in a manner that protects journalistic authority.