Topic “laws and legislation”
Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives passes bill that would partially decriminalize defamation
Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives passed on Jan. 24 a bill that partially decriminalizes defamation. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for consideration. Read more »
Honduran Secrecy Law endangers access to public information: RSF
The Law on Secret Information, discreetly adopted by the Honduran parliament on Jan. 13, endangers Hondurans’ access to public information and the transparency of their new government, according to various human rights organizations like Reporters Without Borders. Read more »
11th Austin Forum: culture of secrecy, lack of training are the biggest obstacles to transparency in the Americas
The biggest obstacles to transparency in Latin America and the Caribbean are the region’s enduring culture of secrecy, the infrequent use of right-to-information laws and the lack of training on how to use them effectively, according to the journalists and researchers from the continent who gathered on Nov. 8 and 9 at the University of Texas at Austin for the 11th Austin Forum on Journalism in the Americas’ organized by the Knight Center. Read more »
Journalists lead public information requests in first 18 months of Brazil’s new transparency law, official says
Of the 124,394 applications received during the first 18 months since Brazil’s new Law of Access to Information (LAI) went into effect, 5.15 percent came from journalists, according to Brazil’s Inspector General Jorge Hage. Read more »
Mexico, El Salvador, Antigua ranked higher in right to information laws than U.S. and Canada
Mexico, El Salvador and Antigua are ranked higher than Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Australia on a global ranking of right to information laws, according to the annual ratings prepared by Access Info Europe (AIE) and Halifax-based Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD). Read more »
New Internet bill in Brazil could present both privacy protections and risks for users
A Brazilian bill seeking to regulate Internet use is still under debate and Congress is set to vote on it by the end of October, according to Estado de São Paulo. Read more »
Ecuadorian government to appropriate 55 radio and TV stations under country’s communications law
A total of 55 radio and television frequencies will be appropriated by the Ecuadorian government for failing to comply with the country's new communications law, said telecommunications minister Jaime Guerrero during a Sep. 20 press conference, news portal Infobae reported. Read more »
NGOs call Peruvian president not to sign new information crimes law
The Information Crimes Law, also being called "Beingolea Law" after Congressman Alberto Beingolea or "Frankenstein anti internet law" by some of its opponents, was approved almost by unanimity on Peru's Congress on Sep. 12 amid concerns over its possible effects on online privacy and freedom of expression. Read more »
An overview of Uruguay’s proposed media law, the most recent in the region
Uruguay is the most recent country to propose a comprehensive media law to update for the 21st century the norms and regulations overseeing its communications. In May, President José Alberto “Pepé” Mujica sent the proposed bill to the Uruguayan legislature. The Senate is expected to vote on it by the end of the year. Read more »
Freedom of expression coalition criticizes proposed changes to Uruguay’s public information law
The Regional Alliance for Freedom of Expression and Information, a coalition of several organizations from 19 countries in Latin America and the U.S., wrote an open letter to senators and other Uruguayan officials expressing its concern over a series of proposed amendments to the country's Law on Public Access of Information. According to the group, the proposed changes are "regressive" in nature and could significantly limit citizens' access to government information.
