The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, 1900 to today

The record

Incidents in South America

Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

All filters: country, dates, head of government, sort
CountryArgentina, RSF 2026 rank: 98th of 180Brazil, RSF 2026 rank: 52nd of 180Chile, RSF 2026 rank: 70th of 180Ecuador, RSF 2026 rank: 125th of 180Venezuela, RSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180
ContinentSouth America
TacticDetention and violence 3Licensing and closure of outlets 3Expulsion and visa denial 2Shutdowns and blocking 2Funding and ownership pressure 2Prior restraint 2Insult and defamation laws 1
StagePressure 1Punish 2Silence 4Eliminate 1
OutcomeSustained 4Reversed 3Ongoing 1
LevelNational 8
Head of governmentAugusto PinochetGetúlio VargasHugo ChavezJavier MileiJorge Rafael VidelaNicolas MaduroRafael Correa

8 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
28 July 2024Venezuela detains, expels and restricts journalists after disputed 2024 electionVenezuela (RSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180)Detention and violenceNicolas MaduroSustained
4 March 2024Milei's government shuts down Argentina's state news agency TelamArgentina (RSF 2026 rank: 98th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureJavier MileiSustained
1 September 2017Venezuela expels or denies entry to dozens of foreign journalists covering anti-government protestsVenezuela (RSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180)Expulsion and visa denialNicolas MaduroOngoing (25 January 2018)
25 June 2013Ecuador's Organic Communication Law creates a regulator that issues hundreds of sanctions against journalists and outletsEcuador (RSF 2026 rank: 125th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureRafael CorreaReversed (20 February 2019)
27 May 2007Venezuela: the government declines to renew RCTV's broadcast concessionVenezuela (RSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsHugo ChavezSustained (8 September 2015)
24 March 1976Argentina's military junta threatens journalists with prison for reporting on its opponentsArgentina (RSF 2026 rank: 98th of 180)Detention and violenceJorge Rafael VidelaReversed (10 December 1983)
11 September 1973Chile's military government shuts opposition radio stations and newspapers after the 1973 coupChile (RSF 2026 rank: 70th of 180)Shutdowns and blockingAugusto PinochetSustained (1 March 1990)
1939Brazil's Vargas government creates a state messaging department with broad press powersBrazil (RSF 2026 rank: 52nd of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsGetúlio VargasReversed (1 January 1945)
Download this view

CSV, JSON or Markdown. CC BY 4.0; credit "The War On News, thewaronnews.com".

CSVJSONMarkdown

Incidents (RSS)Incidents (Atom)Incidents (JSON Feed)All incidents (CSV)