The session will seek to provide insight into the role of lawyers in contributing to this encroachment on global human rights of freedom of expression and access of information through pre-action demand letters, injunctions, and SLAPP suits, as well as the role of the bar, judges, and professional associations in stemming the tide of this abuse. The last decade has seen a significant decline in democracy and press freedoms coinciding with a rise in totalitarian regimes and a panoply of legal tactics used to silence critics. Lawyers are playing a significant role in this assault on freedoms, and, in some jurisdictions, regulatory authorities have taken notice. This panel will explore what can be done to defend against the various tactics being employed before litigation ensues, in the courtroom, and what the profession can do to tamp down on bad actors.