Paris, 11 September 2025, around ten journalists, lawyers, academics, and civil society advocates gathered at GROW’s co-construction workshop “Towards a Robust Anti-SLAPP Framework in France.” The event marked the second in GROW’s multi-regional series in the context of the Building for the Future Initiative led by On Think Tank, with the support of the Open Society Foundation, on Safeguarding freedom of expression, and especially dedicated to addressing one of the most pressing challenges to freedom of expression today: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
Defending Civic Space
SLAPPs are increasingly recognised as a direct threat to democratic debate. Often initiated by powerful corporations or individuals, these lawsuits are designed to intimidate and silence journalists, NGOs, and whistleblowers through lengthy, costly, and psychologically draining legal battles.
With the European Union’s Anti-SLAPP Directive (2024/1069) set to be transposed by May 2026, France faces a pivotal opportunity to put in place stronger protections for civic actors. GROW’s workshop aimed to translate international best practices into actionable recommendations for a national anti-SLAPP framework that matches the ambition of the EU directive.
From Global Lessons to National Action
Building on insights from GROW’s first event of this series, which explored SLAPP responses in Canada, Mexico, and Indonesia, this Paris workshop brought the discussion home. Participants critically assessed GROW’s draft policy recommendations, explored their feasibility in the French legal system, and identified key reforms needed to make the forthcoming legislation truly effective.
Through interactive World Café discussions, participants exchanged views on strengthening the protection of victims of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) by defining the scope and concrete procedures; preventing the proliferation of SLAPPs through training, awareness-raising, and support for the relevant stakeholders; and ensuring sanctions and accountability for perpetrators, as well as reparation for victims.
A key insight emerged: while France already has certain legal safeguards, their uneven implementation, combined with limited judicial training, creates significant gaps in protection for those targeted by SLAPPs.
Reframing the Debate
The event reframed SLAPPs not merely as legal nuisances but as systemic threats to democracy and human rights. By introducing victim-centred concepts such as “secondary victimisation,” drawn from European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence, participants underscored the cumulative harm inflicted on defenders and the need for a coherent national response.
Lively exchanges also revisited long-standing debates, most notably, whether to decriminalise defamation. While some argued this could curb abusive prosecutions, others highlighted that the criminal framework can, in certain cases, protect defendants by providing investigative tools absent in civil procedures. This nuanced discussion formed the basis of GROW’s third and final multi-regional event, delving deeper into this controversial topic (see the recording of the webinar here – in French).
Collective Expertise for Collective Change
Among the experts contributing to the discussions were representatives of organisations including Sherpa, OFALP, Transparency International France, FIDH, and other lawers and academics, alongside GROW’s leadership team.
Together, they helped crystallise shared advocacy priorities, from improving judicial training and cost-recovery mechanisms to expanding protections beyond civil cases.
More than a one-off discussion, the workshop strengthened civil society coordination in France on anti-SLAPP reform. Participants left with a shared commitment to align advocacy efforts and maintain momentum throughout the transposition process. If we want freedom of expression to thrive, we must make sure the law cannot be used as a weapon against it.
Next Steps
GROW’s third multi-regional event took place in October 2025, focusing on the decriminalisation of defamation, a critical and contested aspect of the broader anti-SLAPP debate.
Through continued collaboration and international dialogue, GROW aims to ensure that France’s upcoming legal reforms truly protect public participation, civic engagement, and the right to speak truth to power.
