Representatives of civil society, journalists, media outlets, academia, businesses, international organizations, and political parties began a dialogue to build agreements that will serve as a basis for regulations that guarantee freedom of expression and access to information on the Internet, in line with international human rights standards and adapted to the national context
On May 22 Uruguay’s Parliament hosted the seminar “Challenges for the Protection of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information on the Internet”, the first public activity of the project “Multilateral Dialogue Toward the Democratic Regulation of Large Digital Platforms in Uruguay”, promoted by Datysoc and OBSERVACOM with the support of UNESCO, the Agency for Electronic Government and the Information and Knowledge Society (AGESIC), and the Senate’s Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee.
The speakers at the opening ceremony were Silvia Nane, senator for the Broad Front (the governing party) and president of the Science, Innovation, and Technology Commission; Rosa González of UNESCO; Patricia Díaz of Datysoc; and Gustavo Gómez of OBSERVACOM.
Nane emphasized the importance of discussions taking place in Parliament, underscoring the need for this space to open its doors and its scope for debate to issues that affect us as a society.
For her part, González recalled Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the right to freedom of expression and to “seek, receive, and impart information.” She noted that, in today’s digital environments, this right faces challenges that question the real capacity to fully exercise it.
Díaz emphasized that the regulation of digital platforms has generally followed a fragmented and reactive approach to specific problems. She suggested that this Multi Lateral Dialogue seeks to take advantage of the current situation to develop an action plan that generates synergies and allows for the completion of two key outcomes: first, understanding where we are and mapping the interests at stake; and second, translating these findings into regulatory proposals adapted to the local context.
Gómez, for his part, emphasized that Uruguay has begun a process with an ambitious goal: to restore a free and open internet. He stressed the need to agree on new regulatory frameworks that guarantee the protection of the rights of social media users, especially freedom of expression. He emphasized that this challenge must be addressed both by the State and by large digital platforms.
During the event, the report “Status of the Regulation of Digital Platforms in Uruguay” —prepared by Datysoc and OBSERVACOM with the support of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)—and the UNESCO Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms were presented. Both documents are key inputs for the debate.
The Guidelines were presented by Rosa González of UNESCO, who emphasized that the guidelines, developed after a consultation process with various stakeholders, seek to safeguard the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and human rights in digital environments. She stressed that UNESCO proposes a governance system that respects these rights and helps mitigate risks, promoting a digital model centered on people rather than exclusively on business models.
Matías Jackson, from Datysoc, presented the status report, which systematizes the main regulatory milestones and national bills applicable to internet platforms and includes an analysis of how the governance of these platforms is addressed internationally. He highlighted that Uruguayan regulations are fragmented and, in many cases, not adapted to the challenges posed by large digital platforms nor do they comply with international human rights standards. He also emphasized that the fact that many platforms are not based in Uruguay leaves users vulnerable when trying to exercise their rights or file complaints.
The program also included a panel with specialists from various sectors related to the topic, who analyzed regulatory challenges and presented their points of view. Participants included Daniel Mordecki (Agesic), Andrés Danza (Búsqueda), Raúl Echeberría (Latin American Internet Association, ALAI), Evelin Heidel (Wikimedia experts of Uruguay), Pablo García de Castro (Inter-American Association of Telecommunications Companies, ASIET), Diego Garazzi (Argentine Association of Journalistic Entities and Inter-American Press Society), Fabián Werner (CAinfo), and Bárbara Muracciole (Internet law expert).
The final panel brought together legislators from the main parties represented in parliament: Silvia Nane (Broad Front), Rodrigo Goñi Reyes (National Party), and Matías Duque Barreto (Colorado Party). The legislators, despite their differences, agreed on the importance of regulating platforms to protect human rights and promote opportunities in the digital environment.