Observed Signal · May 18, 2026 · Petition · Source: persoenlich.com News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Heidi.news Launches Petition Against SLAPP Lawsuits
West Swiss online outlet Heidi.news says it faces a wave of legal procedures after publishing an article about the Swiss subsidiary of the internationally sanctioned Russian bank Sberbank. The publisher reports 39 requests for so-called superprovisional injunctions aimed at halting its reporting and has started a petition calling for a Swiss anti‑SLAPP law. Editor‑in‑chief Serge Michel defended the newsroom, saying the outlet published nothing unlawful and will fight the cases in court. Heidi.news says nine hearings are scheduled in May and June, with the first two hearings occurring on Monday. The piece notes that Swiss parliament lowered the legal threshold for these precautionary measures in 2023 and cites other Swiss media (RTS, Le Temps, Blick, Gotham City) as recent targets of similar actions.
Legal pressure on publishers can affect newsroom operations and press freedom, which in turn influences publisher business models and content risk — but this is a national media/legal story, not industry‑shifting for global AdTech/MarTech.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Heidi.news reported 39 requests for superprovisional injunctions targeting an article about Sberbank's Swiss subsidiary.
- Heidi.news launched a petition calling for the creation of a Swiss anti‑SLAPP law.
- Editor‑in‑chief Serge Michel said the outlet will defend itself in court and maintains it published nothing unlawful or unethical.
- Heidi.news said nine court hearings are scheduled for May and June, with the first two on Monday.
- Swiss parliament lowered the threshold for precautionary measures (superprovisional injunctions) in 2023; other media (RTS, Le Temps, Blick, Gotham City) have recently faced similar measures.
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