Because most of these cases play out in national courts, the real test will be whether governments actually enforce protective measures, such as full cost recovery for defendants or penalties for abusive claimants. For Daisy Ruddock, coordinator at Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe, “the wider danger goes beyond the targeted individuals.” Over time, she said, SLAPPs “undermine the watchdog role that is essential in a democratic society and weaken the public’s ability to hold power to account.”

For the journalists behind the Palantir investigation, the lawsuit hasn’t changed their mission. “We trust the Swiss court to make a fair decision,” says Lorenz Naegeli. “Other than that, we’re not shying away from doing our job.”

https://europeancorrespondent.com/en/r/sued-for-asking-questions