Colombia's new ICT law violates constitution: press freedom advocates

[Judi Lynn]

by Adriaan Alsema August 23, 2019

Colombia’s press freedom foundation FLIP and civil liberty advocated have challenged the country’s new ICT law on claims it grants excessive government control over media.

The excessive government control over TV, radio and internet violates the constitution, according to FLIP, the Colombian Commission of Jurists and the Karisma Foundation, which monitors human rights online.

The organizations asked the Constitutional Court to declare the law unconstitutional because it allegedly gives the government excessive control over public broadcasting and the bodies in charge of licensing.

President Ivan Duque signed off on the law in June, despite criticism by the opposition, public broadcasting personalities and press freedom advocates.

The Communications Regulations Commission
President Ivan Duque’s ICT law created a Communications Regulations Commission (CRC).

This CRC “will have power over essential aspects of the media that we consume on a daily basis: regulate telecommunications services, and public radio and television; it will resolve disputes between providers of those services; and monitor and sanction behaviors that affect pluralism,” the organizations said in a press release.

This commission will not be autonomous, but largely fall under the control of the government, according to the organizations.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/colombias-new-ict-law-violates-constitution-press-freedom-advocates/