How legal bullying works—and how to protect yourself | Laura Prather | TEDxSurrey

In this talk, Laura Prather shares how her belief in free speech sparked by a high school teacher was tested when she witnessed the legal system used to silence truth. As a human rights lawyer, she saw firsthand how Lance Armstrong weaponized lawsuits to intimidate critics, revealing a growing threat known as SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Laura explains how these cases financially and emotionally punish people simply for speaking out, from students to caregivers. She argues that free speech depends on strong Anti-SLAPP laws, which stop abusive lawsuits early and protect ordinary citizens. Her message is a call to defend democracy by standing up to legal bullies and safeguarding everyone’s right to speak. Laura is a preeminent human rights attorney whose three decades of landmark free-speech victories are an urgent call to action. As partner and head of Haynes Boone’s media law group, she has forged protections that matter—leading coalitions to enact anti-SLAPP laws and shaping global safeguards against abusive lawsuits. Her accolades include the American Lawyer’s inaugural Tony Mauro Media Lawyer Award and a top national ranking in Chambers USA. When her personal and professional worlds collided, she saw that free speech doesn’t only disappear through dramatic censorship—it can erode through subtle, daily threats we all face. A 2022 Fulbright Scholar and board-certified appellate specialist, Laura offers a message of hope and a roadmap for resilience, showing how ordinary people can spot emerging dangers and act decisively to protect individual voices and democracy—before it’s too late. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx