Between digital immediacy and fundamental rights
Keywords:
Censorship, social media, legal sanctions, democracyAbstract
Freedom of expression is an essential right for the functioning of a democracy, but it is not absolute, as it must be balanced with other rights such as dignity, public safety, and social order. The growing presence of digital platforms has added complexity to the exercise of freedom of expression, as problems such as misinformation, censorship, and media control on social media arise. The revocation of journalist Alondra Santiago's visa in Ecuador, following an incident in which she modified the national anthem in a video posted on her social media, sparked a heated debate about the limits of freedom of expression in the digital realm. This investigation examined the validity of the sanction imposed on the journalist, analyzing Ecuadorian legislation and international principles on freedom of expression. It also considered the impact of social media on the practice of journalism and how these digital platforms influence the way journalists interact with the public. The methodology used was qualitative, allowing for a detailed exploration of the events surrounding the visa revocation. The results indicated that, according to the Ecuadorian Constitution, no action should be sanctioned unless clearly defined by law. The visa revocation appears to have violated established legal principles, raising questions about the balance between public safety and the protection of fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression.
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