Congress looks into claims of illegal espionage of journalists, organizations and politicians
Argentina Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On May 28, the Bicameral Committee for the Control of Intelligence Organizations and Activities met to analyze an illegal espionage complaint by the head of the Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI), Cristina Caamano. As detailed in the complaint, information on some 500 people linked to the political world, […]
Scientists and medical personnel under threat for questioning official data on COVID-19
Venezuela Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Repressed On mid-May, the president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), Diosdado Cabello, publicly threatened scientists from the Academy of Physical Mathematical and Natural Sciences of Venezuela, whom he accused of stoking alarm in the population. The statements came in response to the publication of a report which […]
Rattled by the spread of COVID-19, the government sought to hide infection and death rates
Brazil Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed While the impact of the pandemic worsens in Brazil, the country with the second most infections worldwide, on June 5 the Ministry of Health decided to modify the methodology for disclosure of official data on the number of infections and deaths from COVID-19. After announcing that only […]
The President criminalizes critical voices and defends his policy in the face of COVID-19
Nicaragua Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Repressed In a response to national and internationally criticism over the government’s response to COVID-19, President Daniel Ortega published an official document, or white paper , in which he describes critical voices as “disinformative terrorism” and “false news campaigns.” He also refers to the role of the international media as […]
The Supreme Court declared the quarantine unconstitutional
El Salvador Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed Since mid-May, El Salvador has been subject to a state of legal uncertainty that jeopardizes the protection of citizens’ rights and the control of the use of public funds to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation stems from the presidential decision to extend the quarantine without […]
Social organizations challenge proposed reforms to the national intelligence system
Chile Impact | Negative Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On June 8, a group of deputies, senators, party presidents, unions and civil society organizations sent a letter to the Chamber of Deputies challenging the government’s request for urgent discussion on the bill to reform the national intelligence system and the bill to protect infrastructure. In the […]
New cyber patrol protocol could allow for mass surveillance of social networks
Argentina Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed Different social organizations expressed their concern about the possible implications of a protocol approved by the Ministry of Security on May 31, which enables security forces to perform cyber patrols on open sources and social networks. Authorities are seeking to detect crimes in relation to COVID-19, such as the […]
Government abandons attempt to muzzle journalists and social commentators
Bolivia Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed After announcing measures in March to exert closer control over social networks and crack down on users intentionally sharing false information or fomenting uncertainty in the population, on May 8 the government went a step further in launching a decree that opened the door to the persecution […]
Reform of the Penal Code: new threat to freedom of expression
Honduras Impact | Negative Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Repressed On May 9, the Honduran Congress set for June the entry into force of a controversial reform of the Penal Code approved last year. The reform will bring stiffer penalties for crimes of slander and libel when “carried out through print, television, radio, internet, […]
Bukele questioned for bypassing legislature in decreeing state of emergency
El Salvador Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On May 9, President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, reinforced by decree the country’s compliance controls in regard to the quarantine. In addition to authorizing the arrest and transfer of those breaching the isolation order, Bukele has given a green light to his security forces to […]