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Key Developments: June 2016 – May 2017

● Facinghighinflation Argentina’smainserviceprovidersraisedthecostofmobileplansthreetimesin2016,andannouncednewhikesin2017(see“Availability and Ease of Access”).

● Thousandsofpeopleusedsocialmediatocallforconcreteactiontoreduceviolenceagainstwomen,drivingtherelated#NiUnaMenosmottointothemostpopularhashtagusedbyArgentiniansonTwitterin2016(see“Media, Diversity and Content Manipulation”).

● Anewregulationthreatenedanonymityforownersofnewwebsitedomainnames,requiringbiometricdataaspartoftheregistrationprocess(see“Anonymity”).

● Atleastthreecyberattacksagainstdigitalmediaoutletswerereportedinearly2017.OneofthemwasaDistributedDenial-of-ServiceattackagainstthenewswebsiteAdelanto24,whichwastakenofflin inapparentretaliationforapublicationonthearmy(see“Technical Attacks”).

Argentina2016 2017

Internet Freedom Status Free Free

ObstaclestoAccess(0-25) 6 6

LimitsonContent(0-35) 9 7

ViolationsofUserRights(0-40) 12 14

TOTAL* (0-100) 27 27

*0=mostfree,100=leastfree

Population: 43.8 million

Internet Penetration 2016 (ITU): 70.2 percent

Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: No

Political/Social Content Blocked: No

Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: No

Press Freedom 2017 Status: Partly Free

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Introduction

WhileinternetpenetrationandonlineengagementcontinuedtomakegainsinArgentina,aseriesoftechnicalattacksagainstmediaoutletsthreatenedcriticalonlinereporting.

SincebeingsworninaspresidentinDecember2015,MauricioMacrihasestablishedanewtelecommunicationsregulatorandtakenstepstoreformthesector.AdecreeissuedinDecember2016allowedcompaniestooffercableTVaswellasinternetandphoneservices,thoughalawtounifytelecommunicationsandbroadcastmedialegislationwasstillpendinginmid-year.

Thegovernmentdoesnotregularlyblockorfil ertheinternet,andissuesofcontentremovalhaveimprovedsincetheArgentineSupremeCourtestablishedajudicialnoticeandtakedownsystemina2014decision.InNovember2016,abillregulatinginternetintermediarieswasapprovedbytheSenate,establishingtheneedforajudicialordertoremoveonlinecontentforallcases.ThebillhadyettobeapprovedbytheChamberofRepresentatives.Meanwhile,controversialjudicialorderswereissuedduringthecoverageperiodofthisreporttoblockthetransportationmobileappUber,thoughitremainedavailableinBuenosAires.Thisperiodalsosawsomeattemptstoremovecontentfromsocialnetworksandvideo-sharingwebsites.

WhileArgentinadoesnotsufferfromhighlevelsofviolenceagainstjournalists,atleastthreecasesofcyberattacksagainstnewsoutletswerereportedduringtheperiodofcoverage.Threepeoplewerealsodetainedonsuspicionofinvolvementinthehackingoftheministerofsecurity’spersonalTwitteraccounttosenddisinformationandinsults.Ontheotherhand,ahandfulofuserswereprosecutedandchargedforissuingthreatsagainstthepresidentandotherpublicofficial onsocialmedia.

MauricioMacricametopowerpromisingsweepingsocialandeconomicreformsfollowingmorethanadecadeofadministrationsunderNéstorKirchner(2003-2007)andCristinaFernándezdeKirchner(2007-2015).Thegovernmentmadefurthercommitmentstopromotedemocracyandhumanrightsonlineduringthereportingperiod:InJune2016,Argentinajoinedtheinter-governmentalFreedomOnlineCoalition,whichsupportsinternetfreedomandtheprotectionoffundamentalhumanrights.

Obstacles to Access

Access to the internet has increased consistently in Argentina over the past decade. However, a series of recent price increases have made certain mobile internet plans more expensive. Since President Mauricio Macri came into office in December 2015, a number of decrees have sought to reform the telecommunications sector with the aim of promoting convergence and boosting competition, although a promised law to unify the telecommunications and broadcast sectors was still pending in mid-2017.

Availability and Ease of Access

Argentina’sinternetpenetrationrateisamongthehighestinLatinAmerica.1Mobilephone

1 CEPAL,“EstadodelabandaanchaenAméricaLatinayelCaribe2016,”[StateofBroadbandinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean2016],October2016,http://bit.ly/2uOpy7S

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penetrationalsocontinuestogrow.2TheNationalInstituteofStatisticsandCensus(INDEC)recorded17.3millionresidentialinternetaccesspointsinDecember2016,upfrom15.4millioninSeptember2015.TheBuenosAiresopengovernmentwebsitelistedmorethan462publicaccessWi-Fispotsinthecapitalcityinearly2017,anincreaseof13percentfrom2016.3

Key Access Indicators

Internet penetration (ITU)a 2016 70.2%2015 69.4%2011 51.0%

Mobile penetration (ITU)b 2016 151%2015 144%2011 149%

Average connection speeds (Akamai)c 2017(Q1) 6.3 Mbps2016(Q1) 5.3 Mbps

aInternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“PercentageofIndividualsUsingtheInternet,2000-2016,”http://bit.ly/1cblxxY.bInternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“Mobile-CellularTelephoneSubscriptions,2000-2016,”http://bit.ly/1cblxxY.cAkamai,“StateoftheInternet-ConnectivityReport,Q12017,”https://goo.gl/TQH7L7.

Pricesformobilephoneandfi ed-linebroadbandsubscriptionsarerelativelyhigh,4andthecostofcertainmobileplansspikedduringthecoverageperiodofthisreportamidrisingpricesforgas,electricity,waterandtransport.ServiceprovidersMovistar,Personal,ClaroandNextelraisedpricesforprepaidandpostpaidplansthreetimesduring2016,5andannouncednewincreasesinFebruary2017.6InJanuary2017,thenationalcommunicationsregulatorENACOMextendeditsmoreaffordableprepaidmobileplan,launchedbythegovernmentin2014inagreementwithfourcellphonecompanies,7butwithanaveragepriceincreaseof9.5percent.8

MeasurementsofinternetspeedinArgentinavary,butarangeofsourcesshowthatthecountrylagsbehindglobalaveragesinbroadbandspeed.AccordingtoOpenSignal,Argentina’smobileinternetspeedisalsobelowaverageat6.78Mbps,slowerthaneightotherLatinAmericancountries.9

Bothgovernmentandprivateactorstookstepstoimprovemobileservicesinthepastyear.InJune2016,agovernmentdecreeofferedincentivestomobileoperatorsthatinstallantennasonpublic

2 INDEC,“EncuestaNacionalsobreAccesoyUsodeTecnologíasdelaInformaciónylaComunicación”[NationalSurveyonAccessandUseofInformationandCommunicationTechnologies],October5,2015,http://bit.ly/1UL3hQq3 BuenosAiresData,“ListofPublicWi-Fispots,”accessedMarch2017,http://bit.ly/1Fp42mz4 DiarioBAE,“ArgentinayBrasil,lospaísesmáscarosdelaregiónparahablarporcelular”[ArgentinaandBrazil,themostexpensivecountriesintheregiontotalkonmobilephones],Media Telecom, March4,2015,http://bit.ly/1Pp1Va6;MaríaFernandaViecens,“Precio,calidadyasequibilidaddelabandaancha:lasdisparidadesentrelospaísesdelaregiónsonmuyimportantes”[Price,qualityandaffordabilityofbroadband:disparitiesbetweencountriesintheregionareveryimportant],DIRSIPolicyBrief2016,http://bit.ly/1TAPpcm5 “Terceraumentodelañoencelulares:subenlosprecioshasta16%”[Thirdincreaseforcellphonesinayear:pricesincreaseupto16%],La Nación,October1,2016,http://bit.ly/2dh1a7M6 “Aumentanlospreciosdeplanesdetelefoníamóvilyfija [Mobileandfi edtelephoneplansincreaseprices],Revista Fibra,February24,2017,http://bit.ly/2nEpioL7 “TodoloquehayquesaberdelPlanPrepagoNacional”[AllthereistoknowabouttheNationalPrepaidPlan],Télam,August8,2014,http://bit.ly/1mlM3F68 ENACOM,“ContinúaelPlanPrepagoNacional”[NationalPrepaidPlancontinues],January17,2017,http://bit.ly/2mfrhkh;

“Celulares:sube9,5%elPlanPrepagoNacional”[Cellphones:NationalPrepaidPlanincrease9.5%],La Nación,January17,2017http://bit.ly/2nSVM0P.9 OpenSignal“GlobalStateofMobileNetworks,”February2017,http://bit.ly/2mfTPLX

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buildings.10Asofmid-2016theMinistryofCommunicationsalsolaunchedapopularMobileInternetAccessPlan(PAIM)offering4Gcellphonesfor2,200pesos(USD140).11InOctober2016,TelecomArgentinacommittedtoaUSD400millioninvestmentin4Gtechnologyoverthenextfouryears.12RivalcompanyTelefónicareportedin2016thatithadalreadyinvestedUSD3billionin3Gand4Gtechnology,amongotherareas.13

InMay2016,PresidentMacripromisedtobringqualitybroadbandto29millionpeoplewithintwoyearsthroughinfrastructureinvestmentsunderaFederalInternetPlan.14ByJanuary2017,anestimated174locationsin19provinceswereconnectedundertheplan,whichwasexpectedtoreachalmost500locationsbymid-2017.15AseparateinitiativelaunchedinJune2016,theDigitalCountryPlan(PlanPaísDigital),seekstoprovidefreepublicWi-Fiinmorethan1,000municipalities.16

Argentinaoperatestwotelecommunicationssatellites,Arsat-1andArsat-2,whichlaunchedinOctober2014andSeptember2015,respectively.17InNovember2015,Congressapprovedalawonthedevelopmentofthesatelliteindustry,whichprovides,amongotherthings,forthenationaldevelopmentofeightsatellitesinthecomingyears.18ConstructionoftheARSAT-3missionstalledwiththechangeofgovernment,thoughthenationalsatellitecompany(ARSAT)andtheMinistryofCommunicationspledgedtocontinuedevelopingnationalsatellites.19

Underthepreviousgovernment,theConnectEqualityinitiativelaunchedin2010soughttofosterbasicdigitaleducationamongschoolchildrenacrossthecountry.20InMarch2016,membersoftheprogramreportedlayoffs,21althoughtheincominggovernmentdefendedtheirplantocontinue

10 Decree798/2016,June22,2016,http://bit.ly/2o4b3Zn;ENACOM,Resolution5/2017,January30,2017,http://bit.ly/2mPC81k11 ”Lucesysombrasdeldesplieguedel4Genelpaísdurante2016”[Lightsandshadownsof4Gdeploymentinthecountryin2016],La Nación,December28,2016,http://bit.ly/2ncLzLM.12 “TelecomArgentinaanunciónuevasinversionesentecnología4G”[TelecomArgentinaannouncednewinvestmentsin4Gtechnology],Argentina.gob.ar,October7,2016,http://bit.ly/2nECAlm13 “RadiografíadelmercadodetelcosenArgentina”[RadiographyofthetelecomsmarketinArgentina],Infotechnology,September6,2016,http://bit.ly/2nrodQq14 “EnquéconsisteelPlanFederaldeInternetquepresentóhoyMauricioMacri”[TheFederalInternetPlanpresentedtodaybyMauricioMacri],La Nación, May17,2016,http://bit.ly/1NxeQu815 “174localidadesseconectaronalPlanFederaldeInternet”[174localitiesconnectedtoFederalInternetPlan],Revista Fibra,January23,2017,http://bit.ly/2jpj3SM.16 CasaRosada,“ElpresidenteMacrilanzóenSaltaelPlanPaísDigital”[PresidentMacrilaunchedtheDigitalCountryPlaninSalta],June15,2016,http://bit.ly/2cg5rL6;Seealso:PaísDigitalOfficia website,AccessedMarch2017,http://bit.ly/2mUlMpn17 “ElArsat-1llegóalaórbitageoestacionaria”[Arsat-1reachedthegeostationaryorbit],La Nación,October27,2014,http://bit.ly/1wv256C;“LanzaronconéxitoelArsat-2yyaestáenórbita”[SuccessfullaunchofArsat-2,nowinorbit],Clarín,October30,2015,http://clar.in/1KTyt8h18 Law27208,November2015,http://bit.ly/2nByZqm19 “Porfaltadefondos,elGobiernofrenólaconstruccióndeunnuevosatéliteArSat”[GovernmentstoppedconstructionofanewArSatsatelliteduetolackoffunds],El Cronista,March28,2016,http://bit.ly/2qnNSuB20 Decree459/10,http://bit.ly/1biJ9C5;Seealso:GovernmentofArgentina,“ConectarIgualdad”[ConnectEquality],http://bit.ly/1Ebzusv21 “DesdeConectarIgualdaddenuncianmásde1000despidos”[Morethan1,000dismissalsdenouncedfromConnectEquality],La Nación,March4,2016,http://bit.ly/1RvN8PQ;“Conectarigualdad:entrelainclusiónpedagógicaylainclusiónciudadana”[ConnectEquality:betweenpedagogicalinclusionandcitizeninclusion],ADC Digital,March10,2016,http://bit.ly/22vSXBN

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developingtheproject.22Accordingtoinformationpublishedontheofficia website,morethan300,000netbooksweredeliveredtostudentsandteachersin2016.23

Restrictions on Connectivity

TheArgentinegovernmentdoesnotplacelimitsonbandwidth,nordoesitimposecontrolovertelecommunicationsinfrastructure.Therehavebeennoreportedinstancesofthegovernmentcuttingoffinternetconnectivityduringprotestsorsocialunrest.Therearecurrently25functioningInternetExchangePoints(IXPs),whichhelptomanageinternettraffi efficientl .24IXPsarestrategicallydistributedinmajorcitiesacrossthecountry.25

ICT Market

AlthoughtherearenoonerousobstaclestoenteringtheISPmarket,ahandfulofcompaniesdominatethesector.

Therearemorethan1,000licensedprovidersofferinginternetservices,26althougharound90percentofthebroadbandISPmarketisconcentratedinthreecompanies:Telefónica,TelecomArgentina,andCablevisión(GrupoClarín).27Themobilesectorreflect similarconcentrationundermarketleadersMovistar(Telefónica),Claro(AméricaMóvil)andPersonal(TelecomArgentina).28ENACOMapprovedthepurchaseofNextelbyGrupoClarínsubsidiaryCablevisióninMarch2016,advancinginthemobiletelephonemarket.InMarch2017,ENACOMapprovedNextel’srefarmingprojecttoprovide4Gservicesinthe900Mhzand2.5Ghzfrequencies,whichitacquiredinJune2016.29

AcompanywantingtoofferinternetservicesmustobtainalicensefromENACOM,thenationalcommunicationsregulator,aprocessthatunderwentsomechangesin2016.30InMay2016,Resolution2483/2016simplifie thelicenseregistrationprocessforISPs.31TheapplicationfeeincreasedfromARS5,000(US$333)toARS20,000(US$1,330).32Providerscanregisteronline,accordingtoaregulationapprovedinAugust2016.33

22 “ElGobiernoconfi mólacontinuidadde“ConectarIgualdad”ynegódespidos”[Governmentconfi medcontinuationofConnectEqualityanddenieddismissals],Télam,March4,2016,http://bit.ly/1MlZd7U23 “ConectarIgualdadsuperólaentregade300.000netbooksen2016”[ConnectEqualitydeliversmorethan300,000netbooksin2016],ConectarIgualdadwebsite,October2016,http://educacion.gob.ar/conectar-igualdad/noticias/66/pnbsp-conectar-igualdad-superoacute-la-entrega-de-300000-netbooks-en-2016p24 CABASE,“IXPsenfuncionamiento”[IXPsinoperation],accessedJuly17,2017,http://bit.ly/2uMTc0u25 CABASE,MapofNetworkAccessPoints(NAPs)2017,accessedJuly17,2017,http://bit.ly/2ttEmMm26 ENACOM,“Informacióndelasprestadores”[InformationRegardingProviders],http://bit.ly/22w0uAF27 MartínBecerra,De la concentración a la convergencia,[Fromconcentrationtoconvergence],BuenosAires:Paidós,2015,64;Seealso:LeticiaPautasio,“Estadísticas:mercadodetelecomunicacionesdeArgentina”[Statistics:telecommunicationsmarketinArgentina],Telesemana,August4,2015,http://bit.ly/1T6Jjf828 LeticiaPautasio,“Estadísticas:mercadodetelecomunicacionesdeArgentina”[Statistics:telecommunicationsmarketinArgentina],Telesemana,August4,2015,http://bit.ly/1T6Jjf829 Resolution1299-E/2017,March6,2017,http://bit.ly/2nJSbTx30 NationalCommunicationsCommission, Decree764/2000,September5,1998,http://bit.ly/1Ry8Mws;ENACOM“LicenciaÚnicadeServiciosdeTelecomunicaciones,”[LicenceforTelecommunicationsServices],http://bit.ly/2n7sMzT31 “Governmentadoptsthe“multistakeholder”modelforthedevelopmentofInternet”Convergencia Latina,May18,2016,http://bit.ly/20XqAYj;“ENACOMpublicóelnuevoReglamentodeRegistrodeServiciosTIC”[ENACOMpublishedthenewRegulationfortheRegistrationofICTServices],Revista Fibra,May18,2016,http://bit.ly/1V9mxrY.32 Resolution2483/2016,Officia Bulletin,May16,2016,http://bit.ly/1X2OTFy.33 ENACOM“Inscripciónonlineparaproveedoresdeaccesoainternet”,August19,2016http://bit.ly/2nCgodV.

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Aimingtopromoteconvergenceandcompetition,theMacrigovernmenthasissuedaseriesofemergencydecreesandresolutionstosignificantl reformthetelecommunicationsandmediasector.Attherequestofseveralcivilsocietyorganizationshowever,ahearingwasheldinApril2016attheOrganizationofAmericanStatestodiscusstheeffectsofDecree267issuedinDecember2015,whichcategorizedcableTVasanICTservice,releasingcableprovidersfromobligationsintheBroadcastingLaw.34Criticssaidthiscouldunderminepluralism,diversity,andlocalcontentproduction,andaccusedthegovernmentofencouraginggreatermarketconcentration.35

Thegovernmenthas in turndesignatedacommittee todrafta law tounifydigitalandbroadcastmedialegislation,butithadyettobepresentedtoCongressinmid-2017.Thedraftlawissupposedtoovercome the shortcomingsof swiftmodification bydecree,which substantially changed theaudiovisualandtelecommunicationslaws.

Meanwhile,Decree1340 issued inDecember2016allowedtelecommunicationscompaniestooffercableTVaswellasinternetandphoneservicesbeginningin2018.36

ThedecreealsoenabledDirectTV (theonlysatelliteTVoperator)tooffersatellite internetservices.Althoughcommentatorshavenotedthatthesechangesmainlybenefi edClarínGroup,TelefónicaandDirecTV,theystillsparkedcomplaintsamongmajorcompanieswithclashinginterests.

Regulatory Bodies

Themaintelecommunicationsregulator,theNationalAuthorityforCommunications(ENACOM),wascreatedbypresidentialdecreeinDecember2015,37latervalidatedbyCongressinApril2016.38

Thebody’scompositionhasraisedsomeconcernsaboutpossibleexecutiveinfluence ENACOMoperateswithintheMinistryofCommunicationsandhasadirectoratecomprisedoffourdirectorschosenbythepresidentandthreeproposedbyCongress.ENACOMdecisionscanbeapprovedbyasimplemajorityanditsmembersmayberemovedbythepresident.39

TheexecutivebodyNIC.arregulatesandregistersallwebsiteswiththe“.ar”topleveldomainname.Since2015,registrationofanydomainendingin“.com.ar”requiresanannualfeebetweenARS110andARS420(US$7andUS$27).40Whilethesepricesarequiteaffordable,theycoulddetersomeusers.NICwillalsorequireuserstoprovideataxIDnumbertoregisterdomains(see“Anonymity”).

34 OBSERVACOM,“SociedadcivildenunciaantelaCIDHporcambiosaLeyAudiovisual.Gobiernopromete“nuevomarcoregulatorioacordeconelderechointernacional”[CivilsocietydenounceschangestoAudiovisualLawbeforeIACHR.Governmentpromisesnewregulatoryframeworkinaccordancewithinternationallaw],April8,2016,http://bit.ly/2nmsoQo.35 “Losespecialistasopinaronsobreeldecreto267”[Expertopinionsondecree267]Revista Fibra,January4,2016,http://bit.ly/2cdjStz;MartínBecerra(blog),“Restauración”[Restauration],January2016http://bit.ly/1RG65fw.36 Decree1340/16,December30,2016,http://bit.ly/2ijOhcE.37 Thedecreedissolvedthepreviousregulatoryagencies,FederalAuthorityofAudiovisualCommunicationServices(AFSCA),theFederalAuthorityforInformationTechnologiesandCommunications(AFTIC).DNU267/15,http://bit.ly/1UycLzB.38 “ElCongresopusopuntofina alaleydemediosdelkirchnerismo”[Congressputsfina stoponKirchnermedialaw],Infobae,April6,2016,http://bit.ly/2cLKxQA.39 ENACOM,“¿QuéesEnacom?”[WhatisEnacom?],AccesedonMarch,2017http://bit.ly/1LHw47b.40 NICArgentina,RegistrationFees,accessedMarch2017,http://bit.ly/2n7Tjgk.

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Limits on Content

Several cases during this period concerned requests to remove content from social networks and video-sharing websites. Controversial judicial orders were issued to block Uber, yet the transportation app remained available in Buenos Aires. Born in Argentina, the #NiUnaMenos campaign against gender-based violence has gained momentum and exemplifies the country’s increasing use of social media for political and social activism.

Blocking and Filtering

UsersinArgentinahaveaccesstoawidearrayofonlinecontent,includinginternationalandlocalnewsoutlets,aswellasthewebsitesofpoliticalpartiesandcivilsocietyinitiatives.YouTube,Facebook,Twitter,andinternationalblog-hostingservicesarefreelyavailable.Thereisnoautomaticfil eringofonlinecontent.Law25.690,however,requiresISPstoprovidesoftwarethatcanallowuserstochoosetolimittheirownaccessto“specifi websites.”41Courtshavethepowertoorderwebsiteblocks,andhavedonesotoprotectcopyrightinthepast.42AnotherblockingcaseoccurredinJuly2015,whenajudgeissuedanordertoblockaccesstofi epagesonthejustpaste.itsitewithinformationexposingvulnerabilitiesintheelectronicvotingsystemtobeusedfortheBuenosAiresmayoralelections.43

Acontroversial judicialorderwasdocumentedduringthereportingperiod,although ithad limitedimpact. InApril2016,a judge inBuenosAires issuedapreliminary injunctionordering the localgovernmenttohalttheactivitiesofthemobileappUber,whichhadjustlaunchedinBuenosAires.44Theinjunctionwasrequestedbythetaxidrivers’union.Ablockingorderwasissuedbyanotherlocaljudgeshortlyafter.45TheordersaidUberwasnotincompliancewiththelegalframeworkforpublictransportationservices.However,theblockingcouldnotbe implementedbecause ISPssaidthat itwastechnicallyimpossibletolimittheblockingtoonecity.46Duetothisconstraint,inApril2017,alocalCourtofAppealruledthattheblockingordermustbeimplementednationwide.47However,itisnotclearthatitwasimplemented,sincetheappcontinuedoperatinginBuenosAiresthroughthisperiodofcoverage.48

Authoritieshavetakenstepstoextendcontentregulation,butnonewmeasureshadbeenintroduced

41 Law25.690,http://bit.ly/1UqLHCO42 In2014,acivilcourtorderedISPstoblockaccesstoIPaddressesassociatedwithThePirateBay,awebsitethatfacilitatespeer-to-peer(P2P)fil sharingusingtheBitTorrentprotocol,onthegroundsthatThePirateBayincludedlinkstocopyrightprotectedcontent.However,usersinArgentinacancurrentlyaccessThePirateBaythroughitsmanymirrorsites.See:“Pesealbloqueo,variossitiospermiteningresarathePirateBayenlaArgentina”[Despiteblocking,varioussitesenableaccesstothePirateBayinArgentina],Infotechnology,July3,2014,http://bit.ly/1qTe7E243 “OrdenanimpedirelaccessoapaginasWebconinformacionsobreelsistemadevotoelectornicoporteno”[TheyorderedtopreventaccesstoWebpageswithinformationabouttheBuenosAireselectronicvotingsystem],La Nacion, July6,2016,http://bit.ly/2zsGjs444 “LajusticiaordenaelcesedeoperacionesdeUberenBuenosAires’[JudgeorderstostopUberoperationsinBuenosAires],La Nación,April13,2016,http://bit.ly/1qpOAqF45 “OtrorevésparaUber:lajusticiaordenóbloquearlawebylaapp”[AnotherdefeatforUber:courtordertoblockthewebandtheapp]Clarín,April22,2016,http://clar.in/2nGewkI46 “LosproveedoresdeInternetdicenquenosepuedebloquearUbersóloparalosporteños”[IPSssaytheycannotblockUberjustinthecityofBuenosAires],La Nación,May25,2016http://bit.ly/25liyvt47 “LajusticiaporteñabloqueólaappdeUberanivelnacional”[CityofBuenosAiresCourtblockedUbernationwide],Telam,April11,2017,http://bit.ly/2rNuU4X.Therulingcanbeaccessedhere:http://bit.ly/2smP0A648 “Pesealaordenjudicialdebloqueo,Ubercontinuabafuncionando”[DespitejudicialblockingorderUbercontinuedtowork],Telam,April11,2017,http://bit.ly/2ue3RhE

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inmid-2017.InDecember2016,abillproposedtocreatean“OmbudsmanonSocialNetworks”withthepowertoorderthetemporarysuspensionofwebsitesanduserprofile incaseofacts,expressionsorfactsthataffectusers’constitutionalrights.49Whilestillattheearlystagesofthelegislativeprocess,thebillhasraisedconcernsfor itsvaguewording,aswellastheombudsman’spowertoordertheblockingofawebsitewithoutajudicialorder.50

AmunicipalinternetblockingbillpresentedinBuenosAiresinAugust2016wouldhaveenabledmunicipalprosecutorstoblockapplicationsordomainnameswiththepurposeofpreventing

“unlawfulconduct.”51Widelycriticizedforitsbroadlanguageandforunderminingnationaljurisdictionrules,52itwaswithdrawnbeforeitwasdebatedbytheBuenosAiresCityLegislature.53

Content Removal

Pressure on companies to remove content increased slightly during the period of coverage, asindividual judges ordered some content to be removed from social networks and video-sharingwebsites.Legislationrequiringacourtordertosupportalltakedownrequestsmadeprogressbuthadyettopass.

Judgesorderedsocialnetworksandvideo-sharingwebsitestoremovecontentbasedontherighttohonorandprivacy–whichisguaranteedunderCivilCode(art.52)andallowsArgentiniancitizenstopreventorrepairanydamagetotheirreputation–inatleasttwocases:

● InFebruary2017,apreliminaryinjunctionissuedbyajudgeintheprovinceofSaltaorderedGoogle-ownedYouTubetotemporarilyremoveavideobyMathieuOrcelcalled“Salta:themurderof two Frenchwomen.”54 The fil castdoubton a judicial investigation into themurderoftwotouristsin2011,andalocaldeputyfeltthatitimplicatedanddamagedhimandhisfamily’sreputation.Whilethefil canstillbeaccessedinVimeoandotherwebsites,55theproducers removed the video fromYouTube to avoid “distorting themeaningof thedocumentary.”56

● InDecember2016,apreliminaryinjunctionorderedTwittertodeleteaggressivecommentsandphotomontagesmadeonitsplatformagainstArgentiniancelebrityVictoriaVanucci,whichcalledherinsultssuchas“killer,”“dog,”“cockroach,”orthatexpressedhatred,in

49 Bill8542-D-2016,http://bit.ly/2rDEGGC50 Roko,Paula“ProponencrearunDefensorPublicoenRedesSociales”[TheyproposetocreateapublicDefenderonSocialNetworks],Perfil,January4,2017,http://www.perfil.com/actualidad/p oponen-crear-un-defensor-publico-en-redes-sociales.phtml51 “PolémicaenArgentinaporunproyectodeleyquehabilitaelbloqueodeInternetenBuenosAires”[ControversyinArgentinaoverinternetblockingbill],Telesemana.com,August31,2016,http://bit.ly/2ciMBOt52 ADCDigital,“UnproyectodeleyqueponeenriesgolalibertaddeexpresiónenInternet”[AbillthatcouldjeopardizefreedomofexpressionontheInternet],August29,2016, http://bit.ly/2cQZxfL; AccessNow,“SociedadcivilyorganizacionesacadémicaspreocupadasporproyectodeleyparabloquearsitioswebyaplicacionesenArgentina,” [CivilsocietyandacademicorganizationsconcernedaboutinternetblockingbillinArgentina],August29,2016,http://bit.ly/2bPGYLX53 “Frenanelproyectodeleyparabloquearsitiosweb”[Internet-blockingbillwasstopped],Minutouno.comSeptember1,2016,http://bit.ly/2cDwqNL54 “OrdenanaGoogleyYouTubesuspendertemporariamenteladifusióndeundocumental”’[GoogleandYouTubeareorderedtosuspendthedisseminationofadocumentary’],eltribuno.info,February21,2017http://bit.ly/2mLG9nK.Thepreliminaryinjunctioncanbeconsultedhere:http://bit.ly/2rUiOnq55 ‘’Esteeseldocumentalsobreelcrimendelasturistasfrancesasquenoquierenqueveas”’[Thisisthedocumentaryonthemurderofthefrenchtouriststhattheydon’twantyoutowatchit]infobae.comFebruary22,2017,http://bit.ly/2kMuDMQ56 “Levantaroneldocumentalqueplanteabadudassobrelainvestigacióndelasturistasfrancesas”[DocumentarythatcastdoubtontheinvestigationoftheFrenchtouristswasremoved],clarin.com,February21,2017,http://clar.in/2mp3Era

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reactiontophotospublishedofherposingalongsidehuntedanimalsduringaSafariinAfrica.57Therulingstatedthattheuseofhernameandphotoswithoutauthorizationwasaviolationofherrighttohonor.TheWorkingGrouponInternetServices,apublicagencyunderthenationalMinistryofCommunications,publishedastatementraisingconcernsabouttheinjunctionanditspotentialrepercussionsforfreedomofexpressiononline.58Therewasnoconfi mationthatTwittercompliedwiththerequest.

Recentcourtdecisionshaveestablishedtakedowncriteriatoavoidpotentialabuseofgenericinjunctionstorestrictfreedomofexpression.AlandmarkrulingbytheArgentineSupremeCourtin2014confi medthatintermediariesshouldnotbeliableforthird-partycontentiftheydidnothaveknowledgeofallegedthird-partyviolations.59Itestablishedthatintermediariesmustremoveunlawfulcontentonlyiftheyarenotifie byajudicialorder,thusfavoringajudicialtakedownregimeovera“notice-and-takedown”system.Ontheotherhandhowever,thecourtstatedthatifthecontentinvolves“manifestillegality,”aprivatenotificatio totheintermediaryissufficient ArecentcourtrulingbytheSupremeCourtinSeptember2017reaffi medthesestandardsinthe

“Gimbutas”case.60

InanothercaseinJune2015,afederalappealstribunalinBuenosAiresdeterminedthatprecautionarymeasuresmustnotbedictatedingeneraltermsandinfringingsiteshavetobeidentifie viatheURLinordertoberemoved.61Asubsequentrulingfromthesamecourtsupportedtheneedforremovalorderstolistspecifi webpages.62

Whiletheserulingsimprovedthelegalframeworkforcontentremoval,anotherjudgementinMay2017suggestedthatsearchenginesmustobtaintheconsentofthesubjectbeforepublishingthumbnailimagesinsearchresults,contradictingthe2014SupremeCourtjudgementwhichestablishedthattherighttoaccessinformationextendstopictures.TherulingwasissuedbytheArgentineFederalCourtofAppealsonCivilMatterinacasethatheldGoogleandYahooliableforpublishingresultsontheirrespectivesearchenginesthatlinkedthenameofanex-modeltopornwebsites.63TheCourtcondemnedGoogleandYahootopayNorbisARG$1,400,000(USD80,000)buttherulingwasappealedtotheSupremeCourt.Google’slawyershadalsoaskedtheplaintifftoidentifytheURLforaspecifi pagetobedelisted,arguingthatdoingsowithasimpletermoranentiredomainwouldconstitutecensorship.

Otherrulingsduringthecoverageperiodweremorepositive.InNovember2016,theSupremeCourtoftheProvinceofTucumánruledthatnewswebsitescannotbeheldresponsibleforcommentspublishedbythirdpartiesontheirplatforms.Thecourtrejectedaclaimfile byajudgewhosaid

57 FederalJudgeonCivilandCommercialMatters,“Vanucci,MaríaVictoriac/TwitterInc.s/AcciónPreventivadeDaños,”December2016,http://bit.ly/2oHvVWD58 “ElfalloVanuccicontraTwitterdejómuchatelaparacortar’[RulingagainstTwitterinVanuccicaseleaveplentyofroomfordiscussion],Diario Judicial,January5,2017,http://bit.ly/2nELYoZ59 SupremeCourtofJustice,“Rodriguez,MariaBelénc/GoogleInc.s/dañosyperjuicios,”October28,2014,http://bit.ly/1UGGjrD60 SupremeCourtofJustice“Gimbutas,CarolinaValeriac/GoogleInc.s/dañosyperjuicios”September12,2017http://bit.ly/2ffnzmW61 ArgentineFederalCourtofAppealsonCivilandCommercialMatters,II,“Giovanetti,Laurac.YahooArgentinayotro,”June2,2015,http://bit.ly/2bXF72p62 ArgentineFederalCourtofAppealsonCivilandCommercialMatters,II,“Albertario,Claudiac.YahooArgentinayotros/dañosyperjuicios,”June2,2015(linknotavailable)63 ArgentineFederalCourtofAppealsonCivilMatter“Norbis,MaríaLuisayotroc/Yahooyotro”May3,2017http://bit.ly/2hFSLfs

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commentspublishedonanewswebsitehadharmedhisreputation.64Amonthlater,thesamecourtrevokedapreliminaryinjunctionissuedbyanotherjudge,whichpreventedsearchenginesfromlinkingtonewsreportsaboutthedeathofahousemaidwhousedtoworkforthejudge’sfamily.65

Billspendingapprovalduringthisperiodofcoveragehavealsosoughttoaddressissuesrelatedtointermediaryliabilityandcontentremoval:

● InNovember2016,theSenateapprovedabillonintermediariesthatrejectsprivateoradministrativenotice-and-takedownsystems,andestablishesthatinallcasesajudicialorderisnecessarytoremoveonlinecontent.66Inmid-2017,thebillwaspendingapprovalbytheChamberofRepresentativesbeforebecominglaw.

● AseparatebillsubmittedtotheChamberofRepresentativeswouldpermitnotice-and-takedownsystemsforcasesof“manifestillegality,”suchascontentthatfacilitatescrime;endangershumanlife;advocatesnationalorracialhate;andchildpornography.67

● Twobillscriminalizethedisseminationofnon-consensualintimateimages–alsoknownas“revengeporn”–andstatethatthecontentmustberemovedbyjudicialorder.68OneofthebillshasalreadybeenapprovedbytheSenateinDecember2016.69

● Thenationaldataprotectionauthoritypresentedanewdataprotectionbillin2017(see“Surveillance,Privacy,andAnonymity”).70Thebillestablishesanindividual’srighttoerasepersonaldatawhenitisnolongernecessaryforitsoriginalpurpose,orwhenthereisnopublicpurpose.Thedraft,whichincludedsomeexceptionstoprotectfreedomofexpression,waspendingsubmissiontoCongressinmid-2017.

Media, Diversity, and Content Manipulation

Argentinahasarelativelyopenanddiverseonlinemediaenvironment,aswellashighratesofsocialmediause.AccordingtoamapdevelopedbytheNationalDataProtectionAuthority,therearesevensocialnetworkswithmorethanamillionusersinthecountry.71Self-censorshipamongbloggersandinternetusersisnotwidespreadinArgentina,althoughsomeisolatedinstancesofharassmentmayelicitself-censorshipinparticularcases.

Duringthecoverageperiod,thegovernmenttookstepstocorrectthediscriminatoryallocationofofficia advertising,whichhasplayedamajorroleinshapingmediacontentbothatthefederalandlocallevels.InJune2016,thePublicCommunicationSecretaryissuedanadministrativeresolutionregulatingtheallocationofofficia advertisingaccordingtoobjectivecriteria,suchasmedia

64 SupremeCourtofJusticeofTucumán“ZottoliAlfonsoArseniovs.LaGacetaS.A.s/Dañosyperjuicios”November22,2016http://bit.ly/2nadQmp65 SupremeCourtofJusticeofTucumán“PazdeCenturiónMartac/Ruiz,JulioCésaryotras/incidentedemedidacautelar”December29,2016,http://bit.ly/2njl5st66 Bill942/16,http://bit.ly/2mqp4Ej67 Bill5771/16,http://bit.ly/2i8QFZz68 Bill5893/16,http://bit.ly/2mpNU7tandBill2119/16,http://bit.ly/2narntW69 Bill2119/1670 Draftbillondataprotectionhttp://bit.ly/2o27R0j71 NationalDirectoratefortheProtectionofPersonalData,“Primermapaargentinodelasredessociales,”[FirstArgentinemapofsocialnetworks],August2015,http://bit.ly/1Y0fekF

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reach,relevanceofthemessage,geographiczoneandpluralityofvoices.72InNovember2016,theSenateapprovedabillstatingthatofficia advertisingwillbeallocatedaccordingtoprinciplesoftransparency,pluralism,federalism,andnon-discrimination.ThebillhadyettobeapprovedbytheChamberofRepresentativesinmid-2017.73Thenewgovernmentalsoreduceditsadvertisingexpenditure,74despiteanofficia strategytoincreaseinvestmentindigitaladvertising.75

Researchpublishedduringthecoverageperiodwassuggestiveoforganizeddigitalcampaigningbeingconductedwithapoliticalmotive.InDecember2016,astudyanalyzedbehaviorsonsocialnetworksduringadisputebetweenthenationalgovernmentandscientistsduetobudgetcutsinfundingforscientifi research.76Thestudyobservedextensiveuseofanonymousorfakeaccountsactinginacoordinatedwaytosupportthegovernment’sposition.AsimilarpatternwasseenduringalabordisputewithschoolteachersinFebruary2017,raisingsuspicionsabouttheexistenceofanalleged“armyoftrolls”dedicatedtodefendthegovernmentonsocialnetworks.77

Digital Activism

Argentinianscontinuedtousesocialmediaasatoolforpoliticalmobilizationin2016and2017.Digitalactivismhasplayedacrucialroleinrallyingproteststoadvocateforconcreteactiontoreduceviolenceagainstwomen,78sincethehashtag#NiUnaMenos(NotOneLess)wentviralonsocialmediainJune2015duringamarch.79Asecond#NiUnaMenosmarchtookplaceinJune2016,onceagainrallyingthousandsofpeoplearoundthecountryandencouragingsignifican socialmediaengagement.80InOctober2016,ArgentiniansmarchedagainafterthemurderofayounggirlinthecityofMardelPlata.81Asaresult,#NiUnaMenoswasthemosttweetedhashtagbyArgentinianusersin2016.82Specifi demandshavecalledforthegovernmenttofocusonprevention,byimplementingtheexistinglawagainstgenderviolenceandgivingitabudget,trainingpolice,prosecutorsandjudgeswhohavetodealwiththesecases,andofferingofficia statisticsandcomprehensivesexeducationinschools.

InJanuary2017,socialmediaalsohelpedtoraiseawarenessaboutactsofviolenceandstigmatizationagainsttheindigenousMapuchepeopleinthesouthernprovinceofChubut,inthe

72 Resolution247-E/2016,http://bit.ly/2d6Ge4Z73 Bill1643/16,http://bit.ly/2nyjJdV74 “Elrepartodelapublicidadoficia yasediferenciadelaerakirchnerista”’[Theallocationoftheofficia advertisingdiffersfromtheKirchnerEra],La Nación,January2017,http://bit.ly/2ixYiDa75 “Cuálessonlos25gruposdemediosmásbeneficiado porlapublicidaddelgobiernonacional”[Whatmediaoutletsmostbenefi fromofficia advertising],Infobae,January16,2017,http://bit.ly/2jhy0aw76 “Jugadapreparada’’[Plannedmove]El gato y la caja,December2016,http://bit.ly/2iDLFem77 “Escándalo;denuncianquelacampañadelosvoluntarioscontralosdocenteslaarmóelcallcenterPRO’’[Scandal;AllegationsthatthecampaignagainstschoolteacherswasorganizedbyPROcallcenter],Diario Uno de EntreRíos,February2017,http://bit.ly/2nEmZlM78 “Argentinemarchescondemndomesticviolence,”BBC,June,2015,http://bbc.in/1SXuUoa;“Históricamarchacontralaviolenciamachista”[Historicmarchagainstgenderviolence],Clarín,June,2015,http://clar.in/1KB2azu79 “Delmundoonlinealamarcha:elmapaconlasrepercusionesde#NiUnaMenosenTwitter”[Fromtheonlineworldtothemarch:themapwiththeimpactof#NiUnaMenosonTwitter],La Nación,June2015,http://bit.ly/1Jayd8P80 “Unamultitudenotrogritocontralaviolenciamachista”[Acrowdinanothercryagainstmaleviolence],Clarín,June4,2016,http://clar.in/2ufutAm.81 “Niunamenos:masivaconvocatoriaencontradelosfemicidios”[Niunamenos:massiveprotestagainstfemicide],La Nación,October16,2016,http://bit.ly/2doDZKJ82 “#NiUnaMenosfuelomáscomentadoporlosargentinosenTwitterdurante2016”[#NiunamenoswasthemostcommentedbyargentiniansinTwitterduring2016]Telam,December2016,http://bit.ly/2nH5Omq

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contextofalandclaim.83Netizensalsousedsocialnetworkstocoordinateaprotestagainstthegovernment’sdecisionnottopromotenationalwagenegotiationsforteachers,throughthehashtag#Marchafederal(FederalMarch).84Governmentsupportersalsousedsocialnetworkstopromoteanationalmobilizationinsupportofthegovernmentthroughthehashtag#1A.85

Violations of User Rights

Argentina does not suffer from high levels of violence against journalists, but during the period of coverage three cases of cyberattacks against news outlets were reported. Several users were prosecuted and charged for issuing threats against the president and other public officials on social media. Argentina has relatively strong privacy protections and authorities must obtain a judicial warrant before conducting surveillance. A new regulation requires users to register their biometric data with the Federal Administration of Public Revenues in order to register, transfer, or cancel a domain.

Legal Environment

FreedomofexpressionisguaranteedbytheNationalConstitution.86Argentinaexplicitlyestablishedonlinefreedomofexpressionprotectionsthroughapresidentialdecreeissuedin1997,87whichwereexpandedbytheCongressin2005toinclude“thesearch,receptionanddisseminationofideasandinformationofallkindsviainternetservices.”88Defamatorystatementsregardingmattersofpublicinterestweredecriminalizedin2009,89followingtheInter-AmericanCourtofHumanRights’rulingin

“Kimelvs.Argentina.”90

Thegovernmenthasfurthercommittedtopromotingthevaluesofdemocracyandhumanrightsonline.InJune2016,Argentinajoinedtheinter-governmentalFreedomOnlineCoalition,whichsupportsinternetfreedomandtheprotectionoffundamentalhumanrights.91ArgentinaisthethirdLatinAmericancountry,andthefi stfromSouthAmerica,tojointhecoalition.

Somelawsimposecriminalandcivilliabilityforonlineactivities.Law11.723holdsliablethosewhoreproducecontentthatviolatesintellectualpropertybyanymeans,andestablishessanctionsrangingfromfine tosixyearsinprison.InNovember2013,Congressapprovedalawamendingthepenalcodeandestablishingpenaltiesofuptofouryearsimprisonmentforonlinecontactwithaminorcarriedout“withthepurposeofcommittingacrimeagainst[theminor’s]sexualintegrity.”92

83 “Chubut;represiónydosheridosgravesenlacomunidadmapuche[Chubut:repressionandtwoseriouslywoundedintheMapuchecommunity]Perfil,January12,2017,http://bit.ly/2nI4myO84 “Masivamarchadocentereclamóalgobiernoporlaparitarianacional’’[Massivemarchofteachersclaimedgovernmentfornationwidewagenegotiations]Ambito,March22,2017,http://bit.ly/2oqajiq85 “LamarchaafavordelgobiernocolmólaPlazadeMayoysesintióenelpaís”[Marchinsupportofthegovernmentfille MaySquareandimpactedinallthecountry],Clarín,April1,2017,http://clar.in/2qUALDY86 NationalConstitution,Article14,http://bit.ly/1K2LdgL.Theconstitutionwasamendedin1994,andArticle75(22)nowrecognizesnumerousinternationalhumanrightstreatieswithconstitutionalstatusandprecedenceovernationallaws.87 Decree1279/97,December1,1997,http://bit.ly/1JCs3dP88 Law26032,http://bit.ly/1EzDJA589 Law26551,http://bit.ly/1ZH7UvP90 “KimelvsArgentina,”Inter-AmericanCourtofHumanRights,2008,http://bit.ly/1SrPsUN91 FreedomOnlineCoalition,“FreedomOnlineCoalitionwelcomesArgentinaasits30thmember,”June2016,http://bit.ly/29skEVl92 Law26904,http://bit.ly/1JCto4j

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Thelawgeneratedconcernamongacademicsandcivilsocietyorganizationsbecauseofitsvaguewording.93

In2008,thegovernmentpassedalawoncybercrime,94whichamendedtheArgentineCriminalCodetoprohibitdistributionandpossessionofchildpornography,interceptionofcommunicationsandinformaticssystems,hacking,andelectronicfraud.Someofthetermsusedinthelegislationhavebeencriticizedastooambiguous,whichcouldleadtooverlybroadinterpretation.Proposedamendmentstoanotherlaw,theCodeofCriminalProcedure,couldlegalizesurveillancepowersthatcriticssaidwereintrusive(see“Surveillance,Privacy,andAnonymity”).

Otherbillsarestillpendingapprovalthatcouldbeusedtopunishcertainformsofonlinespeech.InOctober2016,theCommissionofHumanRightsandtheCommissionofGeneralLegislationoftheChamberofRepresentativesapprovedanewbillagainstdiscriminatoryactsbasedonvariousbillsalreadysubmitted.95Thebilldoesnotmakeanyexplicitreferencetointernet,butitsbroadandambiguouslanguagetodefin “discriminatoryacts’’mayaffectfreedomofexpression,includingintheonlinesphere.

Anotherbillintendstocriminalizecyberbullying,statingthatanyonewhobyanymeansharasses,bulliesormistreatsanothermaybefined 96Aseparatebillseekstocriminalizedigitalidentitytheft.97Whileitexemptsparodyaccounts,theprovisionreferstoparodyaccountsthatare“clearlyidentifiabl withthatpurpose.”Bothbillswerependingreviewinmid-2017.

Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities

Internetusersdonotgenerallyfaceprosecutionforonlinespeech,thoughahandfulofpeoplewereprosecutedandchargedforthreateningpublicofficial onsocialmediaduringthecoverageperiod:

● OnJuly30,2016,twomenweredetainedandchargedwithpublicintimidationunderArticle211ofthecriminalcode,afterusingfakeTwitteraccountstoposeasterroristsandpostthreatsagainstthepresidentandseveralpublicbuildings.98SecurityMinisterPatriciaBullrichstatedinapressconferencethatthreateningactsarenojoke,andthatTwittershouldnotbeusedforintimidation,threats,orgeneratingpanic.99InaseparatecaseinMay2016,awomanwhothreatenedthepresidentandhisfamilyonTwitterwaschargedforpostinganonymousthreats,aswellasencouraginghatredforpoliticalviews,underArticle149bisofthepenalcodeandArticle3ofLaw32.592onanti-discrimination,respectively.100

● Apublicemployeealsofacedtrialforthreateningthepresidentandseveralotherofficial

93 “Nuevascríticasalaleydegroomingreavivandebatesirresueltos”[Newcriticismongroominglawrevivesunresolveddebates],Infotechnology,March22,2014,http://bit.ly/PYofy894 Law26388,http://bit.ly/U6ZyAE95 Bill1450/16,http://bit.ly/2y0yuv996 Bill5894/16,http://bit.ly/2rYXext97 Bill6751/16,http://bit.ly/2nauvWR98 “FalsoterroristadeTwitter:detuvieronadosjóvenesporamenazarconponerunabombaenlaCasaRosada”[FalseTwitterterrorist:twoyoungpeoplearrestedforthreateningtoputabombintheCasaRosada],La Nación,July30,2016,http://bit.ly/2aEjd9s99 “DetuvieronadostuiterosporamenazascontraMacri”[TwotweetersdetainedforthreatsagainstMacri],Ámbito,July30,2016,http://bit.ly/2neLOqb100 “ProcesaronalamujerqueamenazóaMacriyasuhijaAntoniaatravésdeTwitter”[WomanprosecutedwhothreatenedMacriandherdaughterAntoniaonTwitter],Clarín, May23,2016,http://clar.in/2n6KwNq

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onTwitterandFacebook.HewaschargedinDecember2016forpostinganonymousthreats,publicintimidation,andpropagandabasedonracialorreligiousdiscrimination,underarticles45,55,149bis,and211ofthecriminalcode,andarticle3ofLaw23.592.101

● OnFebruary16,2017,twopeopleweredetainedforallegedlyhackingintoemailaccountsoperatedbytheMinistryofSecurity,inadditiontotheminister’spersonalTwitteraccount.102Theministerannouncedimmediatelythatpolicehadarrestedthoseresponsible.103Criticssaidthestatementjeopardizedthesuspects’righttoafairtrialbyinferringthattheywereguilty,andthecasewasfurthercomplicatedwhenanotherhackerclaimedresponsibilityfortheincidentafewdayslater.104PolicedetainedathirdpersononsuspicionofinvolvementintheTwitterhackinApril.105

Surveillance, Privacy, and Anonymity

TheArgentinegovernmentdoesnotimposerestrictionsonanonymityorencryptionforinternetusers,thoughnewregistrationrequirementsforpurchasingdomainnameswereimplementedduringthecoverageperiod.Bloggersandinternetusersarenotrequiredtoregisterwiththegovernmentandcanpostanonymouscommentsfreelyinonlineforums.In2016,policymakersmadeseveralattemptstoamendthelawagainstdiscriminatoryacts,106andadvocacyorganizationsrepresentingdisadvantagedgroupspositionedthemselvesagainstanonymousspeechduringCongressionalhearings.107

InJuly2016,theNationalDirectoratefortheRegistryofInternetDomainNameslaunchedanewregulationfortheadministrationofdomainnames.108Inordertoregister,transfer,orcanceladomain,individualsmustapplyfora“taxpassword”(ClaveFiscal)byprovidingtheFederalAdministrationofPublicRevenues(AFIP)withfingerprints afacialphoto,andtheirsignature.AFIPassuredlocalmediathat“itwillnothaveinformationontheadministrationofdomainsandNICArgentinawillnothavetaxinformationeither.Theprocessesareindependent.”109

AresolutionsignedinOctober2016establishedanotherdatabaseofpersonalinformation,requiringENACOMtoadoptmeasurestoidentifyallmobilecommunicationsusersinanationalregistry.110Mobileoperatorsmuststoretheinformationinasafeandauditablemanner,andsupplythemonrequesttomembersofthejudiciaryorpublicprosecutors.Itdoesnotstatehowlongthe

101 “AmenazóaMauricioMacri,GabrielaMichettiyMaríaEugeniaVidal,yahoraenfrentaráunjuiciooral”[HethreatenedMauricioMacri,GabrielaMichettiandMaríaEugeniaVidal,andwillnowfacetrial],Infobae,May16,2017,http://bit.ly/2rB4Cm4102 “DosdetenidosporelhackeoalmailyalacuentadeTwitterdePatriciaBullrich”[TwoarrestedforhackingemailandPatriciaBullrich’sTwitteraccount],Clarín,February16,2017,http://clar.in/2kWYbWk103 MinisterofSecurityPatriciaBullrich,onTwitter,February16,2017,http://bit.ly/2nGTClL104 “OtravezhackearonelespaciomemoriayrevelaronlacontraseñadeBullrich”[TheyhackedagaintheMemorySpaceandrevealedBullrich’spassword],InfoTechnology,February20,2017,http://bit.ly/2m2cef1105 “DetuvieronaotroinvolucradoenelhackeoalacuentadeTwitterdePatriciaBullrich”[AnotherpersoninvolvedinthehackingofPatriciaBullrich’sTwitteraccountwasdetained],La Nación,April25,2017,http://bit.ly/2rAQBoq106 SeeBills:4447-D-2016http://bit.ly/2nDUIi5,1450-D-2016http://bit.ly/2nDWpff,1217-D-2016http://bit.ly/2nWVpz8107 ADC,“ADCpresentationattheadvisorymeetingoftheHumanRightsCommissionoftheChamberofDeputiesoftheNationforthedebateonanewantidiscriminationlaw,”July13,2016,http://bit.ly/2nfkDeR108 NationalDirectoratefortheRegistryofInternetDomainNames,Resolution110/2016,http://bit.ly/2nlZ64D109 “Porquépararegistrarundominio.arahoraseránecesariotenerclavefiscal [Whyisafisca keynowneededtoregistera.ardomain?],La Nación,June6,2016,http://bit.ly/1TWiJev110 JointResolution6–E/2016,MinistryofSecurityandMinistryofCommunications,October26,2016,http://bit.ly/2eWrnaz

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informationmustbestored.Law25.891,passedin2004,requirestelecomoperatorstoregisterusers’identificatio informationbeforesellingthemamobilephoneorprepaidSIMcard.111

Theprivacyimplicationssurroundingdatabanksweredebatedduringthecoverageperiod.InJuly2016,anadministrativeresolutionauthorizedthetransferofpersonalinformationofArgentiniancitizenscontainedinthedatabasesofthesocialsecurityauthority(ANSES),suchasname,IDnumber,telephonenumber,andemailaddress,tothePublicCommunicationSecretary.112Civilsocietyorganizationsquestionedtheuseofsuchdatabytheagency,whichmanagescommunicationstrategyforofficia activities.113Thedecisionwasvalidatedbythedataprotectionauthority;114oppositionpartylegislatorschallengedtheresolutionbuttheirclaimwasrejected.115

Ingeneral,Argentinahasstrongprivacystandardsrootedintheconstitution.TheNationalDirectorateforProtectionofPersonalData(DNPDP)presentedadraftbilltoreformtheDataProtectionLawinMarch2017,116followingaseriesofconsultations.117AnupdatedversionwasissuedinMay.118Thebillestablishestherighttosuppresspersonaldataifitdoesnothaveapublicpurpose,andwhenitisnolongernecessaryforthepurposeitwascollected.However,thebillstatesthattherighttoerasepersonaldatawouldnotapplywhenthedatainquestionisnecessaryfortheexerciseoftherighttofreedomofexpression.TheDNPDPhasissuedlegalrequirementsandprivacyrecommendationsonarangeofissuesinthepast,includingvideosurveillancefootage,119thedevelopmentofdigitalapplications,120anduseofunmannedaerialvehicles(UAVs)ordrones.121

Governmentagenciesdonotsystematicallycollectoraccessinternetusers’metadatadirectly,butmayrequestitfromserviceproviderswithawarrant.122Interceptionofprivatecommunicationsrequiresacourtorder.123

A2013resolutionbytheCommunicationsSecretariatoftheMinistryofFederalPlanningintroduceddataretentionobligations,requiringserviceproviderstostoreuserdataforthreeyears.Itstatesthatprovidersshouldguaranteethetelecommunicationsregulator“freeaccess”toinstallations,and

111 LawNº25.891,http://bit.ly/1ojOlMi112 Resolution166/2016,http://bit.ly/2nnnezV113 ADC,“Elestadoylosdatospersonales”[Thestateandpersonaldata],July2016,http://bit.ly/2ophWWi114 NationalDirectiononPersonalDataReport.5/2016,http://bit.ly/2nHOU5K115 “Trasunfallo,elGobiernoyapuedeusardatosdelaANSES’[Afteraruling,thegovermentcanuseANSESdata],La Nación,November2016,http://bit.ly/2nHROHD.116 NationalDirectoratefortheProtectionofPersonalData,“AnteproyectoLeydeProteccióndeDatosPersonales”[ProposedDraftBillfortheDataProtectionLaw],February2,2017,http://bit.ly/2mpzqoa.117 NationalDirectoratefortheProtectionofPersonalData,“AportessobrelanecesidaddeunareformaalaLeydeProteccióndelosDatosPersonales“[ContributionsontheneedforareformoftheDataProtectionLaw],December19,2016,http://bit.ly/2nOQLUC;ADC,“Posiblereformadelaleydeproteccióndedatospersonales:ADCpresenteenladiscusión”[Possiblereformofthedataprotectionlaw:ADCpresentinthediscussion],August24,2016,http://bit.ly/2mR0R6t;NationalDirectoratefortheProtectionofPersonalData,“Justicia2020reabrióeldebatedelainiciativa‘Reformaalaleydeproteccióndedatospersonales’”[Justice2020reopenedthedebateontheinitiative‘ReformoftheDataProtectionLaw’],February2,2017,http://bit.ly/2n4kM2t118 “AnteproyectodelaLeydeProteccióndelosDatosPersonales(Nuevaversión)”[ProposedDraftBillfortheDataProtectionLaw(Newversion)],NationalDirectoratefortheProtectionofPersonalData,May17,2017,http://bit.ly/2qXIvpp119 MinistryofJusticeandHumanRights,Disposition10/2015,http://bit.ly/25EGjlI120 MinistryofJusticeandHumanRights,Disposition18/2015,http://bit.ly/1RjhmQb121 MinistryofJusticeandHumanRights,Disposition20/2015,http://bit.ly/1fDgI4M122 HalabiErnestov.PENLey28.873s/amparoley16.986”,SupremeCourtcase123 Law25.520,Art.5,http://bit.ly/1bp2vWp

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shouldprovide“alltheinformationthatisrequiredinthesetmannerandtimeframe.”124Therehasbeennoevidencetosuggestthatthisprovisionwasimplementedinanunlawfulorabusiveway.

AmendmentstotheCriminalProcedureCodeofCriminalProceduredraftedinlate2016couldbroadengovernmentsurveillancepowers.125Thebillpresentedforanopenconsultationproposedtheintroductionofspecialmethodsofinvestigation,includingremotesurveillanceofcomputerequipment,andsurveillancethroughimagecapturing,localization,andmonitoring.Theproponentsofthebillarguedthatthetechniquesarejustifie bytheneedtoreactappropriatelyandflexibl tothedifficul taskofcombattingtransnationalcriminalactivity.Criticssaidthebillfailedtoprovideadefinitio ofhacking,merelyreferringtotheuseof“softwarewhichenablesorfacilitatesremoteaccess,”aswellasthelackofnecessaryinformationastotherelevantauthorityresponsible.

Agovernmentagencywithresponsibilityforsurveillanceunderwentseveralchangesin2016.

InDecember2015,Decree256transferredtheDepartmentforInterceptionandCaptationofCommunications(DICOM),dependentonthePublicMinistry,totheSupremeCourt.126DICOMwaslaterreplacedwiththeDirectorateofCaptationofCommunications(DCC).127InSeptember2016,thedirectoratewastransformedintoanoffic underanewDirectorateofJudicialAssistanceinComplexandOrganizedCrimescreatedtoassistjudicialauthoritiesincasesofillegaldrugtrade,humantrafficking kidnapping,moneylaundering,terrorismfinancin andcrimesagainsttheenvironment.128ThoughstilloperatingundertheSupremeCourt,digitalrightsgroupshaveraisedconcernsabouttheoffice snewinstitutionalaffiliation andadvocatedfortheneedforanindependentbodytoenablemoretransparentoversight.129

Covertorunlawfulsurveillancedoesnotseemtobewidespread,althoughsomeactorsinArgentinahaveattemptedtospyoninternetusersinthepast.EmailsleakedfromtheItalianspywarecompanyHackingTeaminJuly2015containedexchangeswithArgentinecompaniesthatclaimedtohavetieswithstate.130Politicalfigu essuchasdeceasedprosecutorAlbertoNismanandjournalistJorgeLanataweretargetedwithmalwarethataccessedtheirdigitalactivityin2014.InDecember2015,theUniversityofToronto-basedCitizenLabdocumentedanextensivemalware,phishing,anddisinformationcampaigninseveralLatinAmericancountries,includingArgentina.131

Thereisnoevidencethatlawenforcementagenciesregularlymonitoronlineplatformsforsignsofcriminalactivity.However,atechnologyexpertaccusedpoliceofcollectingevidencefromhispublicTwitterfeedduringthecoverageperiodofthisreport.TechnologybloggerJavierSmaldonesaidonhispersonalwebsitethatthecybercrimedivisionoftheFederalPolicehadundertaken“cyber

124 MinistryofFederalPlanning,PublicInvestmentandServices,CommunicationsSecretariat,Resolution5/2013,http://bit.ly/1VaT2BX125 “ProyectodereformaalCódigoProcesalPenalFederalingresóalSenadodelaNación”[TheAmendmentBilloftheFederalCriminalProcedureCodeenteredtheSenate],MinistryofJusticeandHumanRights,September30,2016,http://bit.ly/2nQkyhV126 Decree256/15,http://bit.ly/1RI8wLr127 JudicialInformationCenter,“LaCorteSupremacreólaDireccióndeCaptacióndeComunicacionesdelPoderJudicial”[TheSupremeCourtcreatedtheDirectorateofCaptationofCommunicationsoftheJudiciary],February15,2016,http://bit.ly/1Urvf5d;ADC,“Reflexione sobrelacreacióndelaDireccióndeCaptacióndeComunicaciones”[Initialreflection onthecreationoftheDCC],February19,2016,http://bit.ly/2dtGQkc128 SupremeCourtAgreement30/2016,http://old.csjn.gov.ar/docus/documentos/verdoc.jsp?ID=100091129 ADC,“Elcambioquenollega”[Thechangethatdoesn’tcome],April2017,http://bit.ly/2qzhBjI130 LeandroUcciferri,“HackingTeamysusplanesparahackearenArgentina”[HackingTeamandtheirplanstohackinArgentina],Tecnovortex,July,2015,http://bit.ly/1PDwEgS131 CitizenLab,“Packrat:SevenYearsofaSouthAmericanThreatActor,”December2015,http://bit.ly/1U3dFkI

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patrolling”activities,includingsearchingandcollectingevidencefromhisownTwitteraccount,duringtheinvestigationintothehackingoftheministerofsecurity’scommunicationsinJanuary2017(see“ProsecutionsandDetentionsforOnlineActivities”).SmaldonehadpublishedscreenshotsoftheattackandpublishedtheTwitterusernameoftheallegedhacker.132

Intimidation and Violence

Violenceinreprisalfordigitalactivitiesisrare,thoughjournalistsaresubjecttointimidation,includingthosewhoworkonline.TheArgentineForumofJournalism(FOPEA)reported64casesofharassmentagainstjournaliststhroughoutthecountryin2016,29fewerthanin2015.Incidentsinvolvingjournalistsfromdigitalnewsoutletsrepresented25percentofthetotal,anincreaseoverthe12percentdocumentedduring2015.133Journalistsandnewsoutletswerealsothetargetsofhackersduringthecoverageperiodofthisreport:InMarch2017,FOPEAreportedthatindependentjournalistNataliaAguiarhadbeensubjecttoharassmentsince2012,includingthehackingofhercomputersandemailaccounts.AccordingtoFOPEA,theattacksincreasedwhenshestartedresearchingforabookonthePresidentoftheSupremeCourt.134

Technical Attacks

Governmentbodiesaresubjecttotechnicalattacks,includingonehighprofil hackinvolvingcommunicationsattheministryofsecurityin2017(see“ProsecutionsandDetentionsforOnlineActivitiesandSurveillance,PrivacyandAnonymity”).Hackersalsoobstructeddigitalmediaplatformsin2017.

FOPEAreportedthreeattacksagainstdigitalmediaoutletsinearly2017:

● OnJanuary25,thenewswebsiteAdelanto 24wastakenofflin byaDDoS(DistributedDenialofService)attacklasting36hours.135FOPEAsaidthataninvestigationbytheportal,confi medlaterbyunofficia sources,wouldhavebeencarriedoutbysectorsofthearmy,whowereannoyedbythepublicationofanarticlethatrevealedinternalconflicts

● OnMarch9,digitalnewsoutletEdición Límitetemporarilycrashedafteritwastargetedbyacodeinjectionattack,wherebyhackersintroducemaliciouscodecausingawebsitetomalfunction.136

● Anothernewssite,El Litoral,wastargetedbyadefacementattackinlateMarch.Theattackerreplacedthesite’sowncontentwithawarningabouttheoutlet’sreporting.137El

132 JavierSmaldone,“PatriciaBullrichyel‘ciberpatrullaje’”[PatriciaBullrichandthe‘cyberpatrolling’],March9,2017,http://bit.ly/2mtMT9B.133 Informe2016:Monitoreodelalibertaddeexpresión,ForodePeriodismoArgentino,http://bit.ly/2z7qAgB.134 FOPEA,“PreocupacióndeFOPEAporlaspresionesrecibidasporNataliaAguiarenlainvestigaciónypublicacióndesulibro‘Elseñordelacorte’”[ConcernofFOPEAbythepressuresreceivedbyNataliaAguiarintheinvestigationandpublicationofherbook“TheLordofthecourt”],March3,2017,http://bit.ly/2nHnKMD135 FOPEA,“FOPEAcondenaciberataquealsitiodeAdelanto24ypideesclarecimiento”[FOPEAcondemnscyberattacktoAdelanto24siteandasksforclarification] February8,2017,http://bit.ly/2nE9rXu136 FOPEA,“FOPEArepudiaypideesclarecimientodelataqueinformáticoaEdiciónLímiteenSantaFe”[FOPEArepudiatesandasksforclarificatio ofthecomputerattackagainstEdiciónLimiteinSantaFe],March9,2017,http://bit.ly/2mVM26I137 FOPEA,“FOPEArepudiaypideesclarecimientodelhackeoaElLitoral”[FOPEArepudiatesandasksclarificatio onthehackingofElLitoral],March28,2017,http://bit.ly/2nnag55

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Litoralsaidtheattackcouldhavebeenlinkedtoinformationaboutagangofswindlerswhousedcreditcardstomakepurchases.138

Governmentagenciessoughttostrengthentheircybersecuritycapacityinthepastyear.InJanuary2016,thepresidentcreatedthepostofUndersecretaryofTechnologyandCyberSecurityundertheMinistryofModernization,inchargeofdevelopingthestrategyfortechnologicalinfrastructure,aswellasanationalcybersecurityagenda.139InJanuary2017,theCityofBuenosAireslauncheditsfi stcomputersecurityincidentresponseteam,focusedonadvisingandraisingcitizens’awarenessoncybersecurityissues.140

138 “FuehackeadalawebdeElLitoral,”El Litoral,March27,2017,http://bit.ly/2AkZIKD139 Decree13/2016,http://bit.ly/1pHX4J7140 “LaCiudaddeBuenosAirestieneelprimercentrodeciberseguridadenAméricaLatina”[TheCityofBuenosAireshasthefi stcybersecuritycenterinLatinAmerica],Telam,January10,2017,http://bit.ly/2mRO8QM

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