FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN CHILE. SOME COMMENTS RELATED TO THE COMMISSION AGAINST DISINFORMATION CREATED BY THE CHILEAN GOVERNM

Abstract

In this paper, we deal with  the controversy that arose in Chile in 2023 following the establishment by the Chilean government of the Advisory Commission Against Disinformation. This initiative sparked strong criticism as it was perceived as a threat to the freedom of the press and a violation of the right to information. After months of deliberation, the Commission, composed of academics and professionals experienced in fact-checking, managed to overcome allegations of unconstitutionality raised by Chilean parliamentarians and avoided warnings from international organizations advocating for freedom of expression. In summary, neither of the two reports presented provides evidence to support the idea that measures threatening freedom of expression in the South American country could be derived from them.

However, in the current Chilean context marked by strong political polarization and despite the presence of extensive informational pluralism across various platforms and media outlets, as well as a system that guarantees freedom of expression in all its forms, some recent decisions by the government have stirred controversy about the true state of health of this essential human right protected by the Constitution and laws.