Communications Law in Ecuador: When Censoring a Cartoon Becomes a Presidential Priority

Since his reelection, President Rafael Correa has used a series of laws and decrees to constrain criticism and dissent. In June 2013, the National Assembly passed a restrictive communications law that designates the media as a public service subject to government regulation. Political cartoonist Xavier Bonilla was the first victim of this law following the publication of a cartoon that depicted the house raid of journalist Fernando Villavicencio. President Correa called Bonilla, among other things, "an assassin with ink." Bonilla was forced to publish a correction, and El Universo paid a large fine. Join NED's CIMA and Latin America & Caribbean Program and  Freedom House for a discussion on the restrictive nature of the communications law in Ecuador.