Scholars threatened with libel action over their research into the UK’s links with Russian oligarchs are calling for new “anti-SLAPP” laws to help uphold academic freedom. ADVERTISEMENT“As such, SLAPPs pose a threat to academic freedom alongside direct state censorship, physical attacks, imprisonment and (online) harassment,” it continues. Heathershaw, Prelec and Mayne were forced to make changes to their Chatham House report after facing libel threats in 2021. “Existing legal protections are insufficient to fully protect academic freedom,” the letter says, stating that while peer-reviewed papers have a modicum of protection, “academic monographs and other outputs in non-peer-reviewed journals remain unprotected”. “By bringing forward universal anti-SLAPP measures in the next King’s Speech, parliament will finally be given the opportunity to establish robust and accessible protections against abusive legal threats and actions,” it adds.

Source: The Times March 04, 2026 12:20 UTC