IAPA warns of growing threats to press freedom in the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) has raised concerns about mounting threats to press freedom in the Dominican Republic over the past six months, citing legal uncertainty, institutional tensions, and proposed legislation that could restrict journalistic activity.

A key issue highlighted in the IAPA’s latest report is the stalled reform of Law 6132 on Expression and Dissemination of Thought, in effect since 1962. Despite a draft being completed two years ago, it remains under review by the Executive Branch’s Legal Advisory Office and has not yet reached Congress. The IAPA attributes the delay to either a lack of political will or unresolved disagreements over its content.

The organization also criticized new legislative proposals by Deputies Bolívar Valera and Amado Díaz aimed at regulating digital media and influencers, warning they could impose harmful restrictions on free expression online. Additionally, remarks from Senate President Ricardo de los Santos advocating defamation laws sparked concern over the potential criminalization of journalistic opinion.

The IAPA report further notes controversy over a data protection policy by the Supreme Court that journalists say limits access to judicial information. Though a joint commission is now working on revisions, the rule initially allowed judges to classify key data as confidential, hampering investigative reporting.

The Constitutional Court’s December 2024 ruling that struck down the controversial Law 1-24, which had expanded surveillance powers of the National Intelligence Department, was welcomed by press and human rights advocates. Yet, ongoing violations of the Free Access to Public Information Law—such as refusals by the Dominican Port Authority and EDEESTE to disclose requested information—reflect persistent institutional resistance to transparency.

The IAPA concludes that despite isolated progress, the Dominican Republic must take concrete steps to uphold press freedom, ensure access to public information, and protect the independence of journalism from restrictive laws and government overreach.