Overview

• The lawsuit stems from Greenpeace's alleged role in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, operational since 2017 and routed through indigenous lands.
• Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of orchestrating defamatory campaigns, leading to financial damages, while Greenpeace denies these claims.
• The $660 million ruling raises concerns about the use of SLAPP lawsuits to silence activism, with legal experts warning of potential chilling effects on protests.
• Greenpeace plans to appeal the decision, framing it as an attack on free speech and a dangerous precedent for environmental and human rights advocacy.
• The Dakota Access Pipeline remains controversial due to environmental risks and its impact on sacred indigenous sites, opposed by the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes.