Abinader and IAPA President sign updated declaration on freedom of expression

Punta Cana.- President Luis Abinader and José Roberto Dutriz, head of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), signed the Salta II Declaration—a renewed commitment to freedom of expression and the press in the digital age—during the 81st IAPA General Assembly held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This new version updates the original 2018 Salta Declaration, adapting its principles to the realities of rapid technological evolution and the growing challenges of communication, journalism, and free speech in the online environment.

The declaration’s preamble reaffirms that freedom of expression and the press are fundamental pillars of democracy, echoing the spirit of the Chapultepec Declaration. It highlights the transformative potential of the internet, artificial intelligence (AI), and other digital tools to broaden access to information and strengthen civic participation. However, it also warns of threats in the digital sphere, including censorship, cyberattacks, online harassment, disinformation, opaque algorithms, and market concentration that undermine both journalistic sustainability and citizens’ right to truthful, diverse information.

The 18 principles outlined in the Salta II Declaration call for the protection of press freedom equally across analog and digital platforms. They urge governments to guarantee open and neutral digital spaces, safeguard privacy and data protection, respect journalistic sources, prevent mass surveillance, and ensure transparency in algorithmic systems. The document also demands fair compensation for media outlets whose content fuels digital platforms and AI systems, emphasizing that the sustainability of journalism is vital to democracy. In reaffirming the IAPA’s historic commitment, the declaration underscores that defending press freedom in the digital era is an ongoing struggle essential to protecting democratic values and the public’s right to information.