The UK has failed to deal with the problem of SLAPP lawsuits, in which rich people and businesses sue people for libel (or threaten to sue) to stop them from accusing wrongdoing. Even if the person sued is telling the truth, perse may not have the money to pay to defend the lawsuit.

Now Russian billionaires are using this to stop the UK from putting sanctions on them until they have time to sell their UK assets. So the UK is finally looking into how to block SLAPP lawsuits. That would be a change for the better, in general, as it would eliminate part of the unjust power of the rich.

Some US states adopted anti-SLAPP laws a few decades ago, but some have not done so.

More generally, the cost of defending a libel suit in the UK is enormous, so they are used to protect criminals as well as to deter criticism of tyrants such as Putin.