Communication Act includes civil and criminal actions

Communications Act can carry out civil and criminal actions

Following the recent approval of the controversial Communications Act, an issue that remains open is that this law allows the possibility of punishing not only administrative measures but can also perform civil and criminal actions.

Organisms that could establish such actions are the Superintendency of Information and Communication, and the Regulatory Council.

Given these provisions and sanctions, the international organization Reporters Without Borders stated “We regret that there are no provisions to decriminalize the crimes of ‘defamation’ and ‘libel’ accusations“.

They also questioned the ambiguity of other items. “We consider that the article which states that ‘everyone has the right to the public relevant information received through the media is verified, contrasted, contextualized and timely’ is damaging” And they wonder: “What criteria would allow to judge the value of information? What authority would have this power?”

The Communication Law is published today in the Official Gazette, with which it comes into force. In 30 days will shape the Regulatory Council, which shall consist of representatives of the President, Office of the Ombudsman. Autonomous governments, the Security Council and the Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control, an organization that also appoint the Superintendent of the information, and also, advocates of audiences and readers, who will supervise the publications of newspapers.