The controversy is on. “What does the government intend to do against the media and freedom of digital expression?” they comment on Colombian social networks in response to the advancement of a bill on digital security. A complaint that is repeated among Argentine tweeters due to the approval of a similar regulation in the province of Misiones.
As reported by the Colombian media, bill 023 of 2023 presented by the Executive proposes the creation of the Digital Security and Space Affairs Agency, in charge of the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic (Dapre). This is an office that many fear will be used to restrict freedom of expression.
The representative to the Chamber José Jaime Uzcátegui, of the Democratic Center party, set off alarms by questioning the scope that the project would have. presented last July by the ICT Minister, Mauricio Lizcano, and approved in the first debate in the Chamber.
Opponents of the proposal point 14 of the project stands outwhich grants the new entity powers to “order the cessation of operations in cyberspace in the event of an attack that affects national sovereignty and the digital ecosystem, as well as its economy, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense.”
A whole debate was thus opened, because while some argue that freedom of expression would be violated, the defenders of the initiative point out that in the face of threats on the internet, clear protocols must be in place.
In the midst of the controversy generated, Lizcano assured that the national government does not want, nor is it thinking about having the power to interfere or close social networks but rather address cybersecurity issues.
«Last year, 20 billion cyber attacks were recorded, underscoring the importance of cybersecurity in a digital world. This aspect is vital for development and has become one of the government’s priorities,” he explained.
Liscano added that the suspension of operations will only be carried out when three conditions are simultaneously met: national sovereignty is compromised, the digital ecosystem is impacted, and the economy is harmed.
The situation in Colombia is comparable to that experienced in Argentina, where the Legislature of Misiones approved on September 26 the creation of a Specialized Cybercrime Investigation Prosecutor’s Office. This new office will receive broad powers, including the ability to seize electronic devices without the need for authorization from a criminal judge.
In this way, articles 6,7 and 10 of the regulations allow the confiscation of these devices. in crimes such as slander, insults and incitement to violence“when they are committed through electronic, computer or generative artificial intelligence platforms, to create false news about individuals or public or private institutions and are disseminated through computer, digital, or any other medium.”
The project, promoted by the leader of the Renewal Front of Social Concord, Carlos Rovira, has been harshly questioned, mainly because it is considered that the approach with its articles “attacks freedom of expression and puts citizen security at risk.”
Among the opponents, legislator Ariel Pianesi stands out, who maintained that “freedom of expression is not negotiated in Misiones. “We agree that there are specialists who can investigate cybercriminals, but articles 6 and 7 of the law are invalid.”
Faced with criticism, legislator Anazul Centeno argued that the idea of the proposal It is not curtailing the rights but rather “materialize key tools for citizen protection.”
Brazil and Venezuela set a negative precedent
Seen this way, the legislative projects that are advancing, both in Colombia and Argentina, have similar arguments. This, while fears about these proposals are gathering around the precedents that exist in Brazil and Venezuelawhere there are already experiences of closure of social networks.
Hence the comments made in
With great sadness, I regret to inform you that the implementation of the Brazilian network model (CENSORSHIP) was approved by a majority in the now forgotten province of Argentina: Misiones.
The ruling party is going to create the Cybercrime Prosecutor’s Office and modify the Criminal Procedure Code,… pic.twitter.com/Xm2LaACMYV
— Ainara Lewtak (@lamisioneraa) September 26, 2024
As reported by CriptoNoticias, last Friday, August 30, a judge ordered the “immediate suspension.” access to social networkarguing their inaction to block accounts that spread messages classified as “hate” and “fake news.”
He supported himself with it the definitive closure of the platform for 21.5 million Braziliansjust a few weeks after Maduro did the same in Venezuela under similar justifications. At the beginning of last August, the president argued that the social network “incites hatred” and violates “all the laws” of the Latin American country.
🇨🇴🚨🚨🚨 URGENT:
PETRO presents a bill.
Where can he give the order to close the social networks of any Colombian that he considered a threat (as Maduro did with X).
Censorship begins in Colombia!!
What Colombians plan to do in this situation… pic.twitter.com/JGwTuGA3FS
— Mission accomplished (@ojocolombia2026) September 25, 2024
The measure was taken in the midst of the conflictive environment that was generated Bitcoin-hash/”>after the presidential elections held on July 28 in Venezuela, whose results They are still in dispute and keep the Caribbean country in the middle of a political crisis with international repercussions.
Blocking X,Y Binance-enfrenta-restricciones-acceso-venezuela/”>from other platforms who consider themselves opponents of the Venezuelan government, would initially be for 10 days, but has been prolonged until the current date.
In these cases, the fear that runs among Colombians and Argentines is that – under the protection of the proposed regulations – the actions of these two South American governments will be repeated and freedom of expression in the region will be attacked.
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