A hearing in the lawsuit against Sherpa, the NGO ReAct and three French media companies (Mediapart, L’Obs and Le Point) begins today, 25th of January. The non-profit organisations face a lawsuit for allegedly defaming the Luxembourg-based entity Socfin on account of its coverage of the activities conducted by the company’s subsidiary Socapalm in Cameroon. Both entities belong to the Bolloré Group...

...According to the NGOs, this lawsuit pertains to a broader strategy called SLAPP (“Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation”) ... The organisations count over 20 legal proceedings initiated by Bolloré or Socfin since 2009. In total, around 50 journalists, lawyers, NGOs and media directors have been sued by Bolloré or its partner entities in these procedures.

...[NGOs] mention other “regular” actions by the Bolloré Group to impede freedom of press... 

...The “We will not shut up!” collective..aims at mobilising public opinion and at promoting reforms in the French legal system to increase protection of freedom of expression against any kind of censorship.

[Also refers to Socapalm]