Discussion around freedom of expression in Brazil often centers on Supreme Court decisions and government actions to combat fake news. However, there’s a lesser-known threat looming — judicial harassment. This tactic, aiming to silence journalists reporting on public interest matters, is a severe danger to democracy but has largely escaped public discourse in the country.
The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji) filed a constitutional action against judicial harassment, now pending a Supreme Court decision. Abraji’s thorough research and monitoring point out the damaging effect of this practice on journalism, with parallels to SLAPP lawsuits seen in other nations.
Judicial harassment takes various forms, from coordinated small claims court lawsuits to leveraging political or economic power to intimidate journalists. Abraji’s report highlights the impact of these strategies, emphasizing the urgent need for safeguarding press freedom in Brazil and beyond.