Qué pasa con el derecho de acceso a la información pública en América Latina
Latin America is facing a growing erosion of the right of access to public information, highlighting a stark contrast between the general legal framework and the practical reality of significant setbacks. Although the region has extensive normative coverage, there is a concerning trend toward limiting the autonomy of guaranteeing bodies, expanding exceptions, and restricting access to data under arguments of national security or private nature. This deterioration is evident in emblematic cases such as the elimination of Mexico's INAI, the restrictive reinterpretation of public information in Argentina and Cuba, and the lack of autonomous mechanisms in Costa Rica. These movements, often driven by executives or constitutional reforms, weaken transparency by allowing the executive branch to control data disclosure, increasing discretion and reducing accountability, which directly affects society's ability to monitor public spending and government decisions. This situation is crucial for the open data movement because transparency is not just a legal right, but the technical and political foundation for data accessibility. Without robust autonomous bodies and clear definitions that prioritize maximum disclosure, the open data infrastructure becomes vulnerable to political manipulation. The relevance lies in the fact that legal degradation compromises the integrity and availability of public data, which is essential for innovation, data journalism, and informed citizen participation, thereby threatening the global ecosystem of data-based governance.
Source: aimdigital.com.arPublished on 2025-02-14