We are deeply concerned to hear that the UK Court of Appeal has ordered investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr to pay 60% of businessman Arron Banks’ High Court costs, which will amount to more than £1 million. We believe this amount is disproportionate, given that the court has ruled that her TED Talk was in the public interest. The decision will have a profound chilling effect on critical journalism across the world.

The court costs relate to defamation claims by Aaron Banks following a 2019 TED Talk in which Cadwalladr questioned Banks’ relationship to the Russian government.

We stand in full solidarity with Carole Cadwalladr and call on the UK government to immediately adopt national Anti-SLAPP laws to ensure other journalists will not have to go through this injustice.