When Camila León, an assembly member from the National Democratic Action (ADN for its initials in Spanish), introduced a bill to reform Article 396 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COIP), she said: “Without a free press, there is no democracy.”
Article 396 states that anyone who uses violent, aggressive or hostile expressions on social media, in the media or on other technological platforms to discredit another person could face from 15 to 30 days in prison.
León proposes adding a new provision requiring a judge to determine whether such expressions are part of the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression—when they concern matters of public interest—or constitute criticism of public officials.
For that reason, civil society organizations have warned that the reform would shield public officials from scrutiny.”
