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The Maltese Herald

The European Parliament approves its anti-SLAPP Directive dubbed as “Daphne’s law”

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by

Mark Camilleri
in

The European Parliament has today approved with amendments, and an overwhelming majority, the European Commission’s proposed anti-SLAPP directive, dubbed by its authors and MEPs who lobbied for it as “Daphne’s law” in memory of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Before she was murdered, Daphne Caruana Galizia faced a historic number of libel suits.

The law concerns transnational libel suits and introduces the right to compensation for defendants of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). The directive also introduces obligations for the state to protect journalists and courts will have the option to quickly reject any claim if it is found to be vexatious. There are also clear safeguards and explicit wordings that provide value and importance to the work of journalists, and these concepts also reflect current European case law that values and prioritises the right to information and free speech.

Although the law is concerned with transnational libel suits, it also enshrines into European law, new and fundamental basic concepts in libel law which should be applied universally. Governments are also bound by EU directives and the Maltese government will have to legislate accordingly.

Comments

4 responses to “The European Parliament approves its anti-SLAPP Directive dubbed as “Daphne’s law””

  1. GEORGE CREMONA avatar
    GEORGE CREMONA

    Mark on which side were you when Daphne had to face multitude of libels? On the side of Daphne who was telling the truth about the Labourite crooks all along or on the side of the crooks themselves who murdered or hired criminals to murder Daphne and whom you are now attacking right, left and centre because they had let you down?

    Reply
    1. camillerimark avatar
      camillerimark

      As the executive chairman of the National Book Council I always advocated for free speech and did my job correctly, despite being a member and a delegate of the Labour Party. When Daphne was libelled by Chris Cardona and the government issued a new press bill, I was the first to call-out for the removal of criminal libel and to avoid increasing libel damages. Eventually, I myself edited that press law and was approved by Parliament. There are also articles written by myself in the Times of Malta condemning the Ministers who were suing Daphne. My track-record is very public and I have been very transparent.

      Reply
      1. camillerimark avatar
        camillerimark

        On top of that I have been a big fan of Daphne since I was a young child and Daphne used to tear me to pieces on her blog. I never complained and I look up to her still.

        Reply
  2. The Nationalist Party publishes amendments to the government's anti-SLAPP reform on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists - The Maltese Herald avatar
    The Nationalist Party publishes amendments to the government's anti-SLAPP reform on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists – The Maltese Herald

    […] has proposed amendments to the government’s newly introduced anti-SLAPP measures following the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive dubbed as “Daphne’s Law”. The motion, which was tabled in parliament last week, is proposing to amend the government’s […]

    Reply

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