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5 IPCLJ [1] (2021)

handle is hein.journals/ipclj5 and id is 1 raw text is: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation in the Age of Online Speech: The Relevance of Anti-SLAPP and Anti-CyberSLAPP Legislation I. INTRODUCTION Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are not a new phenomenon in American jurisprudence, yet these lawsuits have been the topic of recent commentary. The discussion surrounding SLAPPs may be a result of various states proposing new or amended anti-SLAPP laws- Virginia and New York, for instance, are a few of the latest legislatures to propose amended anti-SLAPP legislation.1 Or maybe, the rise of online speech and journalism have created new questions and concerns relating to SLAPPs. The point is, while strategic lawsuits against public participation are in no way new, they are as relevant now as ever. Most individuals with social media presences have likely either expressed or witnessed the expression of opinions online. The internet has given rise to whole new platforms on which public participation can exist. For example, online review forums are becoming increasingly popular with sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Glassdoor providing users with platforms to offer opinions about tourism spots, restaurants, and workplaces. Even e-commerce sites like Amazon allow users to leave reviews about the products they buy. When considering these and the countless other examples of online channels for speech and public participation, the subject of SLAPP litigation appears especially relevant to matters relating to computer and internet law. This article aims to provide an overview of SLAPPs and the recently coined cyberSLAPPs; some of the resulting legislation in response to these lawsuits; and a discussion about the relevance of SLAPPs in relation to online speech and participation. Further, this article attempts to provoke thought and continue the discussion about the relevance of anti-SLAPP legislation as electronic forums become more commonplace and public participation becomes increasingly accessible online. The article is 1 Brad Kutner, Anti-SLAPP Speech Protections Pushed in Virginia Legislature, Courthouse News Service (Feb. 3, 2020), https://www.courthousenews.com/anti-slapp-speech-protections-pushed-in-virginia-legislature/; New York Legislature Passes Revised Anti-SLAPP Law to Deter Frivolous Lawsuits and Strengthen Free Speech Protections, Gibson Dunn (Aug. 5, 2020), https://www.gibsondunn.com/new-york-legislature-passes-revised-anti-slapp-law-to- deter-frivolous-lawsuits-and-strengthen-free-speech-protections/.

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