PPLAAF is an advocacy group providing support and legal assistance to whistleblowers. Global Witness is a human rights organisation which exposes environmental abuses, corruption and human rights issues and advocates for climate justice and civic freedoms. On July 2nd, 2020, Global Witness and PPLAAF published a joint report titled “Undermining sanctions” taking a critical look at billionaire Dan Gertler’s business empire and his alleged links to financial institutions in Africa. Dan Gertler is an Israeli mining magnate operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who is close to former President Joseph Kabila. On 1 July 2020, just before the report was published, the main bank identified in the investigation, Afriland First Bank RDC, filed a complaint against PPLAAF and Global Witness at the Paris Prosecutor’s office. The complaint makes serious accusations against the two organisations and follows a threat that such legal action would be taken in a letter sent on 11 June 2020 by Gertler’s legal team, including lawyers working at the London firm of Carter Ruck, on behalf of the businessman. The legal complaint made by Afriland First Bank RDC was reportedly accompanied by a smear campaign on social media. On 2 October 2020, it was announced that other three defamation complaints have been filed against PPLAAF and Global Witness before the senior investigating judge in Paris.