Protecting Yourself Against Legal Threats • Carlos Gaio

In this masterclass video, Carlos Gaio, lawyer and CEO of Media Defence, shares practical advice for journalists facing legal threats.

Gaio explains that frivolous lawsuits or SLAPPs — strategic litigation against public participation — are increasingly used by powerful individuals, companies, and governments to harass and silence journalists rather than seek genuine justice, alongside a growing wave of privacy and data protection claims. He argues that a legal review before publication is the best first line of defense, that journalists who receive a threatening letter or lawsuit notice must act immediately rather than ignore it, and that organizations like Media Defence exist to help, offering emergency grants, connecting journalists with trusted lawyers, and supporting appeals up to international courts when needed.

Credits:

• Interview: Sarah Ulrich
• Video Editing: Quentin Egloff
• Music: Lionel Marçal
• Filming: Ron Lopez, Reynald Ramirez, Hashim Hakeem
• Supervision and Coordination: Sandrine Rigaud