老澳门开奖结果

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico 鈥� In an important victory for press freedom and freedom of speech, a U.S. federal district court has granted the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 request to strike down a Puerto Rico law that made it a crime to knowingly raise a 鈥渇alse alarm鈥� about public emergencies, holding that 鈥淸t]he watchdog function of speech is never more vital than during a large-scale crisis.鈥�

The court ruled that the law violated the First Amendment because its broad sweep created a danger of partisan abuse or selective enforcement, enabling the government to suppress or chill speech that contradicts its official narrative. 鈥淸I]nstead of criminalizing speech,鈥� the court observed, 鈥渢he Legislature could simply have required the Government to use its multiple communications platforms to present a complete and accurate description of the facts鈥� relating to emergencies in Puerto Rico.

鈥淭his is a landmark victory for press freedom,鈥� said Brian Hauss, senior staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. 鈥淲e are glad the court recognized that transparency, rather than censorship, is the key to public safety in a free and democratic society.鈥�

The 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Puerto Rico argued that Puerto Rico鈥檚 law violated the First and 14th Amendments because its vague terminology and broad sweep gave people far too little guidance on what speech may constitute a crime, and the government far too much discretion in deciding whom to prosecute.

鈥淭his win sends an unequivocal message that, in Puerto Rico 鈥� where transparency, accountability, and oversight is all but nonexistent 鈥� the press cannot be silenced,鈥� said William Ramirez, executive director of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Puerto Rico.

The law threatened to chill reporting on the COVID-19 crisis and other emergencies, because journalists risked prosecution if the government disputed the accuracy of their reporting. Those found in violation of the law could face up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

鈥淭he declaration of a 鈥榮tate of emergency鈥� must never be used to promote censorship and repression,鈥� said Fermin Arraiza, legal director of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Puerto Rico. 鈥淭his is an important victory for journalists in Puerto Rico and across the United States.鈥�

The 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Puerto Rico filed the lawsuit on behalf of two journalists, Sandra Rodr铆guez Cotto and Rafelli Gonz谩lez Cotto, who feared that the laws would be used to punish them for their reporting on public emergencies, especially reporting that reflects negatively on the government.

鈥淣o journalist in Puerto Rico should allow undue government interference to restrict the right to freedom of speech that is enshrined in both the federal and Puerto Rican constitutions, much less when a state of emergency is declared and in place,鈥� said Rafelli Gonz谩lez Cotto, a plaintiff in the case. 鈥淔alse information can be fought only with true information, not with threats of imprisonment and large fines under the criminal law.鈥�

Sandra Rodriguez Cotto noted that she had already faced intimidation for attempting to report the truth when she was denounced by a former governor鈥檚 chief of staff after she disputed the plausibility of the government鈥檚 official death toll from Hurricane Maria. It eventually emerged that the hurricane claimed more than 3,000 lives, instead of the 64 deaths initially reported by the government.

鈥淎s journalists, our sole duty is to inform the public,鈥� said Sandra Rodr铆guez Cotto, a plaintiff in the case. 鈥淟et this case serve as a reminder that we must be vigilant in defending the freedom of the press from any attempt to obstruct the public鈥檚 access to information.鈥�

The court鈥檚 ruling is available here.