Scholars and universities are increasingly facing legal pressure that officials say threatens academic freedom and campus autonomy. U.K. researchers have petitioned the prime minister for anti‑SLAPP protections after facing defamation threats tied to investigations into elite financial and political links; signatories warned litigation chills public‑interest research and drives self‑censorship. In the U.S., New York Attorney General Letitia James opened an inquiry into Columbia University’s handling of sex‑abuse allegations connected to a former doctor, underscoring the regulatory and legal scrutiny institutions face when past misconduct emerges. Together these developments raise new compliance costs and legal exposure for university research and investigative work.