Argentina - September 2024

On 30 August, President Milei issued Decree 780/2024, amending a 2016 law aimed to enhance state transparency and public information access. The changes modify the types of information that the public can request, limiting access to details about public officials' private lives, “working papers,” and “deliberations.” The decree also imposes more requirements for requesting information and introduces potential penalties for individuals deemed to be abusing their rights when seeking public information. Over 60 civil society organizations and press freedom watchdogs have petitioned for its withdrawal, arguing it poses a threat to the right to access information in accordance with international human rights standards, potentially undermining efforts to prevent corruption and enforce accountability. They warn that the measure could allow public officials to discretionally determine what constitutes public information shielding them from public scrutiny by the press and general public.

Sources: Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), El Pais, Foro de Periodismo Argentino (FOPEA), Buenos Aires Times