SLAPPs and Freedom of Expression in Romania - FreeEx Digest no. 11

ActiveWatch presents an analysis of the phenomenon of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in Romania, which aim to restrict freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

The central aim of our study is to analyse the mechanisms through which the judicial system comes to be exploited by powerful actors – be they politicians, public officials, businesspeople, civil servants, companies or public institutions – with the aim of silencing critical voices in the media and civil society. Based on the description of several relevant case studies from recent years, the research illustrates not only court decisions but the entire litigation ecosystem, from the grueling duration and sometimes prohibitive costs, to aggressive litigation strategies and the negative consequences for the dissemination of information of public interest. The ActiveWatch analysis includes 17 such case studies.

The original report, in Romanian, was published in March 2026.