Israeli Lawmaker Advances Bill to Limit Social Media Defamation Suits and Curb SLAPP Abuse

Israeli Member of Knesset Keti Shitrit from the Likud party has taken a significant step toward reducing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) by advancing a bill in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. The proposed amendment to the Defamation Law aims to cap compensation for online comments without proven damage at 1,000 shekels and empower courts to impose penalties on plaintiffs who file lawsuits intended to silence or harass critics.

Shitrit emphasized that while the law protects individuals' reputations, it has increasingly been exploited to intimidate and suppress free speech, especially by wealthy parties targeting private citizens. The bill distinguishes between independent defamatory publications and responses to existing posts, limiting damages for the latter to prevent chilling effects on public discourse.

The legislation also authorizes courts to award compensation and legal costs to defendants if a suit is found to be filed maliciously to silence or deter expression. This move responds to a rise in high-value defamation claims linked to social media interactions, which critics say are used more as tools of harassment than justice.

Shitrit, a leading contender in the upcoming Likud primaries with strong support from the Haredi community, highlighted that the bill balances protecting reputations with safeguarding freedom of expression. Following its approval by the Ministerial Committee, the bill is expected to be debated in the Knesset soon, potentially marking a major reform in Israeli defamation law.

Recently, a court in Beit Shemesh awarded 80,000 shekels to a student harmed by false online claims, underscoring the seriousness of defamation damages. Shitrit’s proposal aims to prevent abuse of the legal system while ensuring genuine victims can still seek redress.