Venezuela’s Attorney-General, Luisa Ortega Díaz, has introduced a harsh new draft law that could see journalists jailed for up to four years for “media crimes,” fuelling fears about the country’s worsening media freedom climate.

The “Special Draft Law against Media Crimes” (“Proyecto de Ley Especial contra Delitos Mediáticos”) – presented before the National Assembly on 30 July – introduces a variety of new media offences, each carrying stiff prison sentences.
Journalists and broadcasters who “harm the interests of the state,” “cause panic” or “disturb social peace” could face jail. If the draft passes in its current form, editors who refuse to reveal the true identity of anonymous writers could be jailed for up to two years, while the owners, managers, and other “responsible persons” at media organisations could face four years for refusing to publish a reader’s reply to an article.
The draft law also introduces a four year prison sentence for any individual who distributes false information – or who “manipulates” news – in a way that could harm the public’s “mental or moral well-being”.
The draft law appears to be part of a wider crackdown against the media in Venezuela, under Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Dozens of radio stations are seeing their licenses revoked and Chavez has also threatened to shut down Globovision, a final-bastion opposition TV channel, claiming it is being used in a “media war” backed by US imperialists. The government has also suggested making TV stations carry Chavez speeches live.
“The Venezuelan authorities are taking another step in the wrong direction here,” said IPI Deputy Director, Michael Kudlak. “At a time when governments are looking to scrap prison sentences for media related offences, the Chavez administration is introducing a raft of new measures. We urge the National Assembly to reject this law outright.”

Venezuelan Attorney-General Diaz indicated her desire to introduce media law with penal sanctions following a recent series of controversial, anti-government ads, one of which featured a naked, pregnant woman covering up her private parts with her hands and arms.

In response to the ad, the Attorney General’s office instigated an investigation into, among other things, a breach of children’s rights. Ortega Díaz lamented that the penalties would likely be administrative rather than criminal, and called for the drafting of media legislation with penal sanctions.