Latin America faces rising media regulation challenges

Subject

The spread of media regulation initiatives.

Significance

Unlike in Europe or the United States, there is an increasingly consolidated trend in Latin America towards media regulation: various governments have pushed for the adoption of new anti-trust rules and the strengthening of executive control over the media. However, there are significant differences in approach across the region. Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil all face challenges in this context.

Impacts

• Disputes between the Argentine government and media may become more raucous as October elections approach.
• Uruguay's good reputation in terms of media freedom will not be undermined by its new broadcasting law.
• Brazil needs a new regulatory framework, but doubts over the risk of content controls have delayed it before and may do so again.