The Special Rapporteurship publishes the Special Report on the situation of freedom of expression in Chile

October 15, 2025

Washington, DC—The Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) publishes the Special Report on the Situation of Freedom of Expression in Chile, based on the visit carried out from March 18 to 21, 2024. This visit was carried out in accordance with recommendation 48 of the report "Situation of Human Rights in Chile" and within the framework of the Joint Mechanism for Follow-up on the Recommendations of the Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Chile (MESECH). During the visit, the SRFOE delegation held meetings with state authorities, journalists, representatives of national and community media, civil society organizations, and academics dedicated to monitoring freedom of expression. It also met with victims of human rights violations and their families.

This report compiles, analyzes, and systematizes the information received before, during, and after the visit to the country, including reports derived from the Rapporteurship's monitoring activities. In particular, it highlights Chile's institutional track record in protecting freedom of expression, emphasizing its commitment to inter-American standards and the implementation of progressive mechanisms to guarantee this right. It also addresses allegations of violations of freedom of expression and identifies structural challenges, especially in terms of the safety of journalists, media pluralism, and the adaptation of regulations to digital environments. The report concludes that institutionalizing these protection mechanisms is key to ensuring the sustainability of the progress made and addressing new threats in a context of profound social, political, and technological changes.

The report is structured in four sections. The first analyzes reports of threats faced by the press in the country, including physical violence, especially in the context of protests and social demonstrations; threats; the misuse of the judicial system to criminalize their work; and acts of violence, intimidation, and criminalization directed at women journalists. Despite initiatives adopted by the authorities to strengthen the protection of journalists, such as training programs for public officials and the promotion of the Bill for the Protection of Journalists and Communications Workers, significant challenges remain in the effective implementation of measures to ensure safe environments for the practice of journalism. The Rapporteurship emphasizes that guaranteeing a safe environment for journalism requires the implementation of a comprehensive approach that articulates preventive, punitive, and reparative mechanisms consistent with international standards in this area.

The second section examines the relationship between freedom of expression, democratic institutions, and the rule of law, with an emphasis on the right of access to public information. In this context, the Office welcomed the existence and work of Chilean bodies that guarantee access to information, such as the Council for Transparency (CPLT in Spanish), created by the Law on Transparency in Public Service and Access to Information of the State Administration. However, despite the good institutional practices promoted by the State, during the visit, it became known that there were alleged repeated restrictions on requests for access to information, manifested in general refusals and recurring extensions of response deadlines.

The third section analyzes progress, challenges, and recommendations regarding freedom of expression in the digital environment in Chile. The Chilean State's initiative to establish the Advisory Commission against Disinformation (CDD in Spanish) in 2023 is recognized positively. However, based on the information received, it is considered that the digital ecosystem in Chile presents significant challenges to guaranteeing the full exercise of freedom of expression, particularly in relation to deliberate disinformation, the regulation of content on digital platforms, and persistent gaps in access to information and communication technologies. The need to develop regulatory frameworks that, without restricting freedom of expression, contribute to the configuration of a digital environment that promotes diversity, pluralism, and access to information is emphasized.

Finally, the last section examines the conditions for pluralism and diversity in the media, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by community media and the relationship between freedom of expression and the fight against discrimination and exclusion. Media concentration, evidenced by restrictions on community media access to broadcasting licenses and the unequal distribution of the radio spectrum, together with the financial difficulties of independent media, are identified as barriers to a more inclusive information environment. Although there are initiatives to strengthen the role of community media, the lack of concrete mechanisms and regulatory, economic, and technical restrictions continue to hinder their development and sustainability. In addition, difficulties persist in ensuring the representation and participation of historically marginalized groups in the public sphere, due to the continuation of discriminatory discourse and practices in the media.

The Special Rapporteurship once again thanks the State of Chile for the information provided during the visit, the guarantees of free transit within the country, and its openness to international scrutiny. It also expresses its gratitude to civil society organizations, journalists, and other relevant actors for the valuable information they shared. This Office is confident that the report will contribute to documenting the progress and persistent challenges in the area of freedom of expression in Chile, and that the recommendations made, which focus on areas requiring priority attention, will guide the State in bringing the country's regulatory framework, policies, and practices into line with international and inter-American standards and commitments on freedom of expression.

Click here to access the full report (available in Spanish).

The Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression is an office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to promote the hemispheric defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression, considering its fundamental role in the consolidation and development of the democratic system.

No. R210/25

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