Freedom of expression bill would protect the media

Attorney Eric Raful asserted that the bill on freedom of expression and digital media seeks to protect fundamental rights and provide legal support to media outlets and content creators in the face of external pressure.

"It is a mandate of the Dominican Constitution that, as a normative development of fundamental rights, this be developed for the purpose of better guaranteeing and protecting those rights," he said.

Raful explained that the bill develops legal mechanisms to harmonize freedom of expression with other fundamental rights such as honor, privacy, and image, and indicated that it establishes clear legal criteria to guide the decisions of administrative and judicial authorities in situations where these rights conflict.

The jurist also explained that the initiative contemplates the creation of an autonomous body that will not have the power to impose criminal sanctions and will be responsible for safeguarding freedom of expression and guaranteeing due process in any proceedings related to this right.

"The sanctions stipulated, which are all administrative , are made in the context of actions that violate the right to freedom of expression ," he said.

Raful emphasized that the project was developed with the advice of national and international experts , including representatives from the Inter-American Human Rights System and UNESCO.

He also reported that the proposal includes institutional support for media outlets and content producers in the face of external pressure.

"The bill requires the National Institute of Communications (INACOM) to support Listín Diario in its complaint against the platform if it causes any harm. It must support YouTubers and content producers in similar complaints," he concluded.

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