The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

The record

Incidents in South America, national level

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 180PeruVenezuela, RSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180
ContinentSouth America
TacticLicensing and closure of outlets 5Funding and ownership pressure 4Detention and violence 3Shutdowns and blocking 3Prior restraint 3Expulsion and visa denial 2Insult and defamation laws 1
StagePressure 2Punish 2Silence 6Eliminate 1
OutcomeSustained 6Reversed 3Ongoing 1Unknown 1
LevelNational 11
Head of governmentAlberto FujimoriArtur da Costa e SilvaAugusto PinochetGetúlio VargasHugo ChavezJavier MileiJorge Rafael VidelaJuan PerónNicolas MaduroRafael Correa

11 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)
July 1997Peru strips television station owner Baruch Ivcher of his citizenship after critical reportingPeru (RSF rank: not recorded)Funding and ownership pressureAlberto FujimoriSustained
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)
13 December 1968Brazil's military government decrees the Fifth Institutional Act and moves to control the pressBrazil (RSF 2026 rank: 52nd of 180)Prior restraintArtur da Costa e SilvaUnknown
October 1951Argentina: President Juan Perón's government hands the expropriated newspaper La Prensa to the CGT labor federation, October 1951Argentina (RSF 2026 rank: 98th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsJuan PerónSustained (1 October 1951)
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)
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