Definition
A meritless or abusive lawsuit filed by a powerful party — typically a corporation, public figure, or institution — against a creator, journalist, or critic with the primary purpose of silencing criticism, exhausting the defendant's financial resources, and deterring future commentary, rather than winning the case on its legal merits. SLAPP suits are a significant threat to creator-journalists, commentary channels, and critics who cover powerful entities. The cost of defending even a frivolous lawsuit can be prohibitive for individual creators, making SLAPP an effective censorship tool even when the plaintiff has no viable legal claim.