Proposal for a new media ‘gag law’ gets the cold shoulder, even from Citizens Revolution

There will be no return of the so-called “gag law” on the news media, National Assembly and government officials say. Enacted during the Rafael Correa presidency, the law was used to punish newspapers, broadcast media and journalists the government accused of spreading “false and dangerous information.”

National Assemblyman Xavier Lasso

Even Correa’s own Citizens Revolution movement is distancing itself from a proposal by National Assemblyman Xavier Lasso, a member of the Citizens Revolution’s delegation, to resurrect the Commnication Law.

“No, this is not the official position of the movement,” Assembly President Viviana Veloz said Tuesday. “We respect the right of the Assemblyman to make the proposal, but this is an individual interest, not one supported by the movement.

In a social media statement, the presidential campaign of Citizens Revolution’s Luisa Gonzalez also said it is not considering a new Communication Law.

Xavier Lasso, the brother of former president Guillermo Lasso and a close friend of Correa, said Sunday he plans to introduce new “media control” legislation in the Assembly in May. “It is time we put a stop to the media doing what it wants to,” Lasso said, claiming it consistently supports right-wing positions with false information. He added that he had discussed his idea with Correa and the former president supports a new law.

Xavier Lasso criticized his brother for scuttling Correa’s law, claiming “Guillermo was acting in the interests of the neo-liberal oligarchy.”

The proposal has been attacked by current and former officials, including Guillermo Lasso, who takes credit for eliminating the law in 2021. “Restoring the right of free speech to Ecuadorians was one of my top priorities and I am proud that this was accomplished,” he said.

“Freedom of expression is a human right, not a privilege granted by governments or a space that politicians can regulate at their convenience,” the former president said. “I am pleased the law is off the book and confident that it will not return.”

In a statement, the leadership of President Daniel Noboa’s National Democratic Action party also attacked Xavier Lasso’s proposal. “Let it be clear, the old country of fear and censorship will not return.” The statement continued: “Correismo used the Communication Law to punish and threaten more than 600 media outlets, to persecute journalists, and to impose fines in an effort to stop criticism of the government. We promise Ecuadorians that there will be no return to the authoritarian actions of the past.”

Among other critics of the proposal was former presidential candidate Leonidas Iza. In a Tuesday radio interview, Iza said he had “many problems with the truthfulness of the news media,” but said a gag law also attacks the rights of individuals. “It is the kind of repressive tactics that has been used for generations against the indigenous people of Ecuador.”