Dominican newspaper Listín Diario denounces censorship threat

Santo Domingo.- El Listín Diario, the Dominican Republic’s oldest newspaper with 135 years of history, has publicly denounced an ultimatum from its digital content host, Network Solutions. The company demanded the removal of an archived news article within 48 hours or face suspension of the newspaper’s online broadcasts.

The contested article, published on March 22, 2024, reported that Lisandro José Macarrulla Martínez admitted guilt in a corruption case. Network Solutions claims the content violates its terms of service following a removal request. Listín Diario argues this is a clear violation of press freedom and the right to access truthful public information, supported by Dominican constitutional rulings and international human rights standards.

The newspaper is now switching service providers to prevent a “digital blackout” that would restrict millions of readers’ access. Listín Diario affirms its commitment to independent journalism, condemning the attempt as censorship and emphasizing that verified, public-interest news cannot be arbitrarily removed.