Media outlets in Northern Ireland took part in a UK-wide Day of Action. The campaign calls on the government to include anti-SLAPP protections in the upcoming King's Speech.

The UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition organised the effort. The group formed in January 2021. It includes freedom of expression organisations, whistleblowing groups, anti-corruption bodies, transparency organisations, media lawyers, researchers, and academics.

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation involve threats of costly court action. Wealthy individuals use them to block publication of reports or remove existing material.

Such lawsuits target journalists for submitting requests or seeking comments, even before any article appears. Local news operations in places like Northern Ireland face these threats alongside larger outlets.

Campaigners, patients posting reviews, environmentalists, and tenants have also faced these suits when raising public concerns.

Supporters state that successful suits remove stories, posts, and reports from public view. Targets often lack funds to defend themselves or attend court.

The King's Speech offers a chance to enact a bill for clear anti-SLAPP measures. This would allocate parliamentary time to protect free speech.