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FREEDOM ON THE NET2015

Key Developments: June 2014 – May 2015

● InJanuary2015,PresidentCorrealaunchedaTwittercampaignagainsthisonlinecritics,encouraginghissupporterstofindandreleasepersonalinformationaboutanonymoususerswhocriticizedthegovernmentonline.Thisledtoanonlineconfrontationthates-calatedtoincludehacking,trolling,andthreats(seeIntimidation and Violence).

● InFebruary2015,CongresspassedandthepresidentsignedtheOrganicLawonTele-communications.Amongotherprovisions,thislawestablishessomenetneutralityprotections;however,somecriticsworrythatthenewlycreatedtelecommunicationsregulatorybodymaylackindependencefromtheexecutive(seeRegulatory BodiesandMedia, Diversity, and Online Content).

● Introductionof4Gtelecommunicationserviceshasincreasedaccessandloweredthepriceofinternetservices(seeAvailability and Ease of Access).

Ecuador2014 2015

Internet Freedom Status Partly Free

Partly Free

ObstaclestoAccess(0-25) 9 8

LimitsonContent(0-35) 11 11

ViolationsofUserRights(0-40) 17 18

TOTAL* (0-100) 37 37

* 0=most free, 100=least free

Population: 16 million

Internet Penetration 2014: 43 percent

Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: No

Political/Social Content Blocked: No

Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: No

Press Freedom 2015 Status: Not Free

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Introduction

Ecuadorstakesoutacontradictorypositiononinternetfreedom—ontheonehand,thegovernmenthasengagedinwidespreadcampaignstoimproveinternetaccessanddigitalliteracy,andhasvocal-lysupportedforeignwhistleblowerslikeJulianAssangeandEdwardSnowden.1Ontheotherhand,evidencemountedduringthecoverageperiodthatEcuador’sgovernmentengagesinwidespreadsurveillanceofitscitizensandusesrestrictivelawsregulatingmediatocurtailinvestigativereportingandtheindependentpress.Mostnotably,in2015,Ecuador’spresidentRafaelCorreawagedahighlypublicsocialmediawaragainsthiscritics.

Ecuadorgainednotorietyininternationalmediain2015afterthepresidentcalledoutthreeTwitterusersandtheFacebookpageCrudoEcuador(“RawEcuador”)forcriticizinghim.2Inhisweeklytele-visionaddress,PresidentCorreaencouragedhisfollowerstorespondtothesecriticsandtorevealanonymoususers’personalinformation.Inthewakeofthisaddress,theusershetargetedfacedsignificantharassment,andseveralclosedtheirsocialmediaaccounts.3

LeaksoverthepastfewyearshavehintedthatEcuadorhasinvestedheavilyintechnologytocon-ductsurveillanceonitscitizens.InJuly2015,manyofthesesuspicionswerebolsteredwhentheItal-iantechnologycompanyHackingTeamsufferedacyberattack,whichresultedintheleakof400GBofinternalinformationandprivateemails.TheseemailsshowedcontractsbetweenHackingTeamandtheEcuadoriangovernment,andprovidedevidencethatthegovernmentmayhavetargetedoppositionfiguresforsurveillance.4

Duringthecoverageperiod,politicallymotivatedcontentremovalviatheabuseofcopyrighttake-downrequests,progovernmenttrollcenters,andheavysanctionsforprivatemediaunderthe2013CommunicationsLawallcontinuedtopresentobstaclestofreeexpression.Thedigitalsphere,how-ever,remainsvibrant.Socialmediauseiscommonandnewdigitalventureswerelaunchedoverthepastyear.

In2015thegovernmentpassedtheOrganicLawonTelecommunications,whichputinplaceavari-etyofpositivemeasures,includingprovisionstoexpandaccess,systematizeregulation,andprotectnetneutrality.Nevertheless,somecriticshaveraisedconcernsthatthenewregulatorestablishedunderthelawwilllackindependencefromthegovernment,sinceitwillfallundertheauthorityoftheexecutivebranch.5

Ecuadorcontinuedtoexpandaccesstomobileinternetandbroadbandoverthepastyear.Newinitiativestoproducesmartphonesinthecountry,aswellasexpanded4Gaccess,holdpromiseforfaster,moreaccessibleservice.Pricesfor3Gand4Ghavealsodecreasedanduseoftheseservicesisexpectedtogrow,especiallyinurbanareas.

1 UltimasNoticias,“EcuadorEstudiaráSolicituddeAsiloPolíticodeEdwardSnowden”[EcuadorwillConsiderRequestforPoliticalAsylumfromEdwardSnowden],June23,2013,http://bit.ly/1JkK4LL;seealsoPressAssociation,“EcuadorRestatesSupportforJulianAssangeonAsylumAnniversary,”The Guardian,August16,2013,http://gu.com/p/3t46j/stw.2 DanielKreps,“JohnOliverSparksFeudWithEcuadorianPresident,”Rolling Stone,February13,2015,http://rol.st/19fRIgh.3 GabriellaTorres,“EcuadorPresidentRafaelCorrea’sTrollWarfare,”BBC Trending (blog),BBC,January30,2015,http://bbc.in/1Kk8HLU.4 AP,“Correction:Ecuador-HackingTheOppositionStory,”The New York Times, August7,2015,http://nyti.ms/1OpHdJ7.5 “EntrevistaaAlredoVelazcosobrelaNuevaLeydeTelecomunicacionesenEcuador,”[InterviewwithAlredoVelazcoaboutthenewTelecommunicationsLawinEcuador],Quinotpoder,February13,2015,http://bit.ly/1MKzQLF.

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Obstacles to Access

Internet access continues to increase in Ecuador, spurred in part by government projects to expand ac-cess and increase digital literacy. The expansion of 4G technology is expected to further increase access, as more Ecuadorians turn to mobile internet. Nevertheless, a marked digital gap remains. Many people in rural areas access a slower internet, or do not have internet access at all.

Availability and Ease of Access

Ecuador’sinformationandcommunicationstechnology(ICT)sectorhasexperiencednotablegrowthinrecentyearsdueinlargeparttogovernmenteffortstoexpandaccess,suchasEcuador’s“DigitalStrategy2.0”plan,whichsoughttoexpandbroadbandaccess,improveinfrastructure,andtrainciti-zensindigitaltechnology.6Theintroductionof4Gtelecommunicationsservicesandlowerpricesformobileinternetalsocontributedtoimprovedandexpandedaccess.InMay2015,theSpanishtele-communicationsproviderTelefónicaannouncedcompletionofthelongestunderwaterfiber-opticcableintheCaribbean.ThiscablewillconnecttheUnitedStatesandEcuador,significantlyincreasingthecapacityandspeedoftheinternetinthelatter.Thefiber-opticcablerepresentspartofalargeradvanceininfrastructureimprovementsinEcuador:thecountryhasexpandedfrom3,500kmoffiber-opticcablein2006to45,000kminMarch2015.7

AccordingtoanAkamaireportfromthefirstquarterof2015,Ecuador’saverageinternetspeedis4.1Mbps.8Asof2014,theInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion(ITU)measuredinternetpene-trationinEcuadorat43percent,anotableincreasegiventhatpenetrationwasjustbelow25percentin2009.9TheEcuadoriangovernmentprovidedalternatestatisticsforinternetpenetrationinMarch2015,claimingthat41percentofthepopulationhasinternetsubscriptionsbutthatover87percentareinternetusers.10Itisnotclearwhatdifferencesinmethodologyaccountforthediscrepancybe-tweenthegovernment’sfiguresandthoseoftheITU,although,thelatterseemstobemoreinlinewithoveralltrendsandaveragesfortheregion.

Broadband(commonlyusedinurbanzones)andsatelliteconnections(oftenusedinruralareas)havebecomeincreasinglypopularinrecentyears.AccordingtostatisticsfromtheITU,Ecuador’sbroadbandpenetrationreached7.8percentin2014,upfrom6.7percentin2013.11TheInter-Amer-icanDevelopmentBankratesEcuador9thoutof26countriesinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanintermsofbroadbandpenetration,althoughitfallsbehindmanyofitsneighborsinSouthAmerica.12Multipleinternetsubscriptionoptions,rangingfromdial-uppay-per-minuteplanstocableandsat-elliteconnections,areavailable.

6 “InNewDigitalPlan,EcuadorAimsforInternetAccesstoHalfofAllHouseholdsby2015,”RCR Wireless,November16,2011,http://bit.ly/1QTjAHm7 ElTelégrafo,“Ecuadortendráinternetcon100megasdevelocidad,”El Telegrafo ,May4,2015,http://bit.ly/1QTjMq2;seealsoEFE,“Finalsectionofmodern,regionalunderseacablecomesashoreinPuertoRico,”May23,2015,http://bit.ly/1PjShEU.8 Akamai,State of the Internet: First Quarter 2015 Report,https://www.stateoftheinternet.com/downloads/pdfs/2015-q1-state-of-the-internet-report.pdf.9 InternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“IndividualsUsingtheInternet,”2000-2014,http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/statistics/Pages/default.aspx.10 AgenciadeRegulaciónyControldelasTelecomunicaciones(ARCOTEL),“Estadísticas,”[Statistics],http://www.arcotel.gob.ec/estadisticas/.11 InternationalTelecommunicationUnion,“IndividualsUsingtheInternet.”12 BancoInteramericanodeDesarrollo,“ÍndicedeDesarrollodelaBanaAncha,”[inSpanish],2012,http://bit.ly/1pxuGX3.

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TheEcuadoriangovernmentclassifiesmobilephonesasluxuryitemsandimposesquotasontheirimportation.13Despitethis,thecountryishometoanactivecontingentofmobilephoneusers,withover16.5millionmobilesubscriptionsin2014andapenetrationrateof103.9percent.14Accord-ingtothemostrecentnationalstudy,regionalvariationsstillpersist,withthelowestnumberofsubscribersfoundintheAndeanhighlandsofBolivar,andthegreatestnumberinPichincha,whichcountsEcuador’scapital,Quito,amongitscities.Mobilephonepenetrationalsovariesamongin-comeandeducationlevels.15

InFebruary2015,Claro,ownedbyAméricaMóvil,andMovistar,ownedbyTelefónica,reachedanagreementwiththegovernmentthatwouldallowthemtouseradio-electricspectrumtoexpand4GservicesinexchangeforpayingtheEcuadoriangovernmentoverUS$300millionandimproving3Gcoverage.16Theseservicesareexpectedtoreachmoreindividualsthanprevious,fairlylimited,attemptstointroduce4Gtechnologybecausemobilepenetrationratesareabove100percentinEcuadorandbothcompaniesareleadingmobileproviders,withacombinedmarketshareofover70percent.Ecuadoralsobeganproducinghigh-endmobilephoneswith4Gcapacityin2014afterthegovernmenteasedrestrictionsonimportingcertainphoneparts.Thesephones,whichareexpectedtohavemaximumdownloadspeedsof100Mbps,havethepotentialtoprovideconsumerswithfasteraccessandgreaterdownloadingandfile-sharingcapabilities.17

Coupledwiththeexpansionof3Gand4Gtechnologywasadecreaseinpricesformobileinternetaccess,althoughpricesstillconstituteanobstacletoaccessformanypeople.Fixed-lineinternetser-vicesatspeedsof3MbpscostanaverageofUS$20permonth,whereas10MbpssubscriptionsareavailableatarateofapproximatelyUS$35-40permonth.18MobileinternetsubscriptionsvaryfromUS$15for250MBofdatatoUS$80for6GB.19

Althoughadigitaldivideexistsbetweenruralandurbanareas,EcuadorhasshownimprovementinextendinginternetaccesstoruralareasoverthepasttwoyearsthroughprogramsfacilitatedbytheMinistryofTelecommunications(MINTEL).Ecuador’sstate-runInfocentros—communitycenterswithnetworkaccessthatbegantobeinstalledinJune2012—havetrainedmorethan185,000peopleintheuseofdigitaltechnology,accordingtotheMinistryofTelecommunications.20Theyofferinternetaccessin491parishcommunities,andalsoprovideequipmentto7,541studentsthroughoutthecountry.AsofJuly2014,thenumberofpeopleusingInfocentroswasalmost3millionnationwide.21

13 AJune2012ruling(No.67)issuedbytheCommitteeonForeignTrade(COMEX)alsoimposesquotasontheimportationofmobilephones.Accordingtotheedict,thelimitationispredicatedonpreventingfurtherenvironmentaldegradationresultingfromresidualmobilephonewaste.SeeLa HoraNacional,“RestriccionesdeComercioLimitaránAccesoaInternet”[TradeRestrictionswillLimitAccesstotheInternet],June26,2012,http://bit.ly/1NGYZ9e.14 ITU,“Mobile-CellularSubscriptions,”2000-2013,http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/statistics/Pages/default.aspx.15 InstitutoNacionaldeEstadísticayCensos,[NationalCenterforStatisticsandCensuses],Reporte Anual de Estadisticas sobre Tecnologias de la Information y Comunicaciones (TICs) 2011[AnnualReportofStatisticsaboutInformationandCommunicationsTechnologies(ICTs)2011],http://www.inec.gob.ec/sitio_tics/presentacion.pdf.16 MercedesAlvaro,“EcuadorSigns4GContractsWithAmericaMovil,Telefonica,”The Wall Street Journal, February18,2015,http://on.wsj.com/1DsXlo9.17 “Ecuadorfabricasuspropioscelulares4G,”[inSpanish]TYN Magazine, http://bit.ly/1gGiQrS..18 CNT,NationalCorporationofTelecommunications,“InternetPlansandServices,”2015,http://bit.ly/1GxG6yZ;BryanHaines,“InternetinEcuador:2013SpeedUpdate,”Gringos Abroad(blog),May18,2013,http://bit.ly/1OL7nFw.19 Movistar,“NuevosPlanesPospago,”[inSpanish],http://bit.ly/1LIjiys.20 MinistryofTelecommunications,“InfocentrosComunitarios,”[InfocenterCommunities],http://bit.ly/1iPMYxq.21 MinistryofTelecommunications,“InfocentrosComunitarios,”[InfocenterCommunities].

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Mobileclassrooms—whichareintendedtoofferaccesstothosewithoutInfocentrosnearby—havealsoprovensuccessful,reaching2,816parishesandmunicipalitiessincetheproject’sJune2012in-ception.In2013,MINTELreceivedanawardfromtheITUinrecognitionofthesuccessofitsMobileClassroomsProject.InMarch2015,theMinistryofEducationbegantoconstructanadditional500mobileclassroomsthatwillservice1,300studentsinthepublicschoolsystem.22

InadditiontothemobileclassroomsandInfocentros,cybercafesprovideinternetaccesstoEcua-doriansatarateofUS$1perhour.Theamountofcybercafeshasdoubledsince2009,from1,355to2,574inMay2015,accordingtostatisticsfromthegovernment’sAgencyofRegulationandControlofTelecommunications(Arcotel).23

Restrictions on Connectivity

Ecuador’sbackboneisnothighlycentralized.Thegovernmentdoesnotplacelimitsonbandwidth,nordoesitimposecontroloverinfrastructure,althoughanewprovisioninthe2015OrganicLawofTelecommunicationsgrantsthegovernmentthepowertotakeovertelecommunicationsservicesintimesofnationalemergency.24Somecivilsocietygroupshaveraisedconcernsaboutthescopeofthisprovision.25

InJune2015,protestersagainstthegovernmentinQuitoandGuayaquilencounteredserviceprob-lems.Explanationsfortheseproblemsrangefromnetworksaturationtothepossiblepresenceofcellphonejammers.26SomeTwitteruserspostedphotosofwhatappearedtobecellphonejammersandcamerasplacedaroundtheparkneartheprotests,27althoughthesereportshavenotbeenconfirmed.OppositionpartyleaderspresentatprotestsencourageduserstocircumventproblemsthroughtheuseofappssuchasFireChat,whichuseswirelessmeshnetworkstosendmessageswithoutaninternetorcellularconnection.Ecuador’stelecommunicationsregulatorArcoteldidnotprovideanyreportsorissuepressreleasesinresponsetotheclaimsthatthenetworksweredisrupt-edduringprotests.28

ICT Market

Ecuadorhasapproximately22internetserviceproviders(ISPs).State-ownedCNTdominatesthefixed-linemarket,withover57percentofsubscriptions.GrupoTvCable(Suratel)andClaro(Ec-uadortelecom)controlthenextbiggestsharesoffixedlineaccess,with12percentand9percentrespectively.29

22 “TheMinistryofEducationisbuilding271mobileclassroomsinGuayaquil,”Ecuador Times, March24,2015,http://bit.ly/1hhvSNF.23 ARCOTEL,“Estadisticas:Cibercafes”[Statistics:Cybercafes],May2015,http://www.arcotel.gob.ec/estadisticas/.24 Accordingtoarticle8ofthelaw,“incaseofaggression,armedinternationalorinternalconflict,graveinternalcommotion,publiccalamity,naturaldisaster,ornational,regional,orlocalemergency,whenthePresidentissuesanExecutiveDecreeofaStateofEmergency,involvingtheneedfortheutilizationoftelecommunicationsservices,thetelecommunicationsprovidersthatoperateonpublicnetworksareobligedtopermitdirectcontrolonthepartoftheheadbodyofthenationaldefense.”;Seealso,AsambleaNacionalRepublicadelEcuador,LeyOrgánicadeTelecomunicaciones[TelecommunicationLaw]http://bit.ly/1Kvdp7W.25 “EntrevistaaAlredoVelazcosobrelaNuevaLeydeTelecomunicacionesenEcuador.”26 Thiseventhappenedoutsideofthecoverageperiodofthereport.27 AldoCassola,Twitterpost,June13,2015,7:50a.m.,https://twitter.com/AldoCassola/status/609734471886114816.28 AlfredoVelazco,“TheInternet,aStagingPostforProtestsinEcuadorUnderThreat,”Global Voices,June28,2015,http://bit.ly/1SVw1DV.29 ARCOTEL,“Estadisticas:Internet”[Statistics:Internet], April2015,http://www.arcotel.gob.ec/estadisticas/.

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Ecuadorishometothreemobileinternetserviceproviders:onestate-runoperator,CNT,andtwoprivateproviders,ClaroandMovistar.Claroholds62percentofactivecellularaccounts,followedbyMovistarwithapproximately30percent,andfinally,state-runCNT,withlessthaneightpercentofsubscribers.30

TherehavebeennoreportedincidentsofthegovernmentplacingrestrictionsonapplicationsfromnewcompaniesintheICTsector;however,highregistrationcostsandadministrativehurdlescanmakeitdifficulttobeginoperatinganewtelecommunicationsbusiness.NewISPsandmobilecom-paniesoftenfacefeesashighasUS$100,000aswellaslegalobstacles,bothofwhichcancomplicatetheirattemptstoenterthemarket.31

Regulatory Bodies

InFebruary2015,Ecuador’sNationalAssemblypassedtheOrganicLawofTelecommunications.NottobeconfusedwiththesimilarlynamedCommunicationsLawpassedin2013,theOrganicLawonTelecommunicationsradicallychangedtheregulationofthetelecommunicationssector.32

Thenewtelecommunicationslawcreatedaregulatorybody,theAgencyfortheRegulationofTele-communications(Arcotel),whichisattachedtotheMinistryofTelecommunicationsandischargedwiththetechnicalaspectsoftheadministration,regulation,andcontrolofthetelecommunicationssectorandtheradio-electricspectrum.33Thepreviousregulatorybodies—theNationalSecretaryofTelecommunications(Senatel)andtheNationalCouncilonRadioBroadcastingandTelevision(Conartel)—werefusedtogetherunderthestructureofArcotel.34

Thetelecommunicationslawalsosetsupmechanismsthatstrengthentheinstitutionalstructureandprocessesofregulationandunificationoftheregimeoftelecommunications,includingradioandtelevision.Thelawhasdrawncriticism,however,forplacingArcotelundertheauthorityoftheexec-utive,whichmayundermineitsindependence.35

Limits on Content

The passage of the 2013 Communications Law granted the government broad authority to censor me-dia for reporting it perceived as biased or inaccurate, a power that has mostly been used to target print and broadcast media. As the government has increasingly curtailed offline media through fines and requests for revisions, new digital ventures and online spaces for political discussion have flourished. In recent years, however, censorship efforts have moved into the online sphere. Facing liability under the Communications Law for third party content, many digital media outlets have closed their comments

30 ARCOTEL,“Estadisticas:Internet”[Statistics:Internet].31 AEPROVIWebsite,http://www.aeprovi.org.ec.32 FormoreinformationabouttheCommunicationsLawpassedin2013:AlejandroMartínez,“Ecuador’scontroversialCommunicationsLawin8points,”Journalism in the Americas Blog,TheKnightCenteratTheUniversityofTexasAustin,June20,2013,http://bit.ly/1L0Hr9e;Forinformationabouttheproposedconstitutionalamendment:HumanRightsWatch,“Ecuador:FlawedConstitutionalReformProposal,”July14,2014,http://bit.ly/1KqBU8r.33 AsambleaNacionalRepublicadelEcuador,LeyOrgánicadeTelecomunicaciones[TelecommunicationLaw]http://bit.ly/1Kvdp7W.34 AsambleaNacionalRepublicadelEcuador,LeyOrgánicadeTelecomunicaciones[TelecommunicationLaw]http://bit.ly/1Kvdp7W.35 “EntrevistaaAlredoVelazcosobrelaNuevaLeydeTelecomunicacionesenEcuador.”http://quintopoder.info/wp/2015/02/13/entrevista-a-alfredo-velazco-ecuador/

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section. Although there is no evidence of blocking and filtering, politically motivated copyright com-plaints have forced the removal of some political content, while evidence suggests that progovernment trolls have skewed national debates. In August 2015, the government declared a state of emergency and ordered prior censorship of all non-government information regarding an active volcano near the capital, a restriction that applied both to traditional media as well as to social media.36

Blocking and Filtering

ThegovernmentdoesnotengageinsystematicblockingorfilteringofcontentinEcuador.YouTube,Facebook,Twitter,andblog-hostingservicesarefreelyavailable.

Content Removal

AstheonlinepublicspheregainsprominenceasaforumforpoliticaldiscussioninEcuador,thegovernmenthasrespondedbyseekingtocontrolonlinecontentthroughavarietyofmechanisms,includingexecutiveorcourtordersforcontentremoval,copyrightcomplaints,andcoordinatedcampaignsonthepartofgovernmentsupporterstoissuecomplaintsaboutsocialmediaaccountsandtriggertheirsuspension.

TherestrictiveCommunicationsLaw,passedin2013,sparkedwidespreadcondemnationfromjour-nalistsandhumanrightsactivists.37Inadditiontosaddlingwebsiteownerswith“ultimateresponsi-bility”forallhostedcontent,prescribingarbitrarysanctionsonmediaforunbalancedreporting,andbanning“medialynching”—anaccusationoftenappliedtoinvestigativereportinginEcuador38—theCommunicationsLawalsograntsthemediaandcommunicationsregulator,theSuperintendencyofInformationandCommunications(Supercom),thepowertoaudit,intervene,andcontrolallinfor-mationandmedia,aswellastoenforceregulationsgoverninginformationandcommunications.39Follow-uplegislationin2014exemptedbloggersandsocialmediausersfromregulationundertheCommunicationsLaw,butextendedthelawtocover“allmediawithanonlinepresence.”40

Inpractice,SupercomhasnotaggressivelypursueddigitalmediaundertheCommunicationsLaw;however,finesandcorrectionstargetingprintmediamayalsoaffecttheonlineeditionofthepub-licationinquestion.Additionally,theCommunicationsLawholdswebsitesliableforcontentpostedontheirsitesbythirdparties.NewsoutletsthathaveallowedreaderstopostcommentscriticaloftheCorreaadministrationonthecommentssectionsoftheirwebsiteshavefacedremovalrequests,andmanynewspapershaveclosedtheircommentssectionentirely.EvenbeforetheCommunica-tionsLaw,someoutletsreportedreceivinglettersfromtheexecutivebranchdemandingthateditorsorwebsiteadministratorsdeletecontent.41

ReformstoEcuador’selectorallawin2012alsohavethepotentialtoaffectspeech.Thereform

36 Thiseventhappenedoutsideofthecoverageperiodofthereport.37 CommitteetoProtectJournalists,“CPJdismayedbyapprovalofmedialawinEcuador,”pressstatement,June14,2013,http://cpj.org/x/5592.38 GinaYauri,“EcuadorPassesControversialCommunicationsLaw,”trans.MariannaBreytman,Global Voices,June19,2013,http://bit.ly/1Lrt8JB.39 Martínez,“Ecuador’sControversialCommunicationsLawIn8Points.”40 TheentiresecondarylawcanbedownloadedattheCouncilofCommunications:Cordicom:http://www.cordicom.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/01/pdf-decreto_214-21-ene-2014.pdf41 SilviaHiguera,“GovernmentofEcuadoraskspaperto‘filter’readercomments,”Journalism in the Americas Blog,KnightCenteratTheUniversityofTexasAustin,January30,2013,http://bit.ly/1LIka6k.

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bannedbiasedcoverageofcandidates,whichmaydiscouragemediaoutletsfrompublishingin-depthinvestigativearticles.Underthelaw,themediaisalsonotallowedtocovertheelectionduringthetwodaysbeforetheelectionbeginsandonelectiondayitself.Althoughreportssuggestthatthislawhasaffectedhowmediaorganizationsreportedonthe2013elections,thereisnoinforma-tionaboutwhetherthelawhasresultedintheremovalorpriorcensorshipofdigitalcontent.42

TheSpanishcopyrightinfringementfirmAresRightshascomeunderfireforitsissuanceoftake-downnoticesonbehalfoftheEcuadoriangovernment.InSeptember2014,bothFacebookandYou-Tuberemovedavideocalled“LoqueCorreanoquieresqueveas”(“WhatCorreadoesn’twantyoutosee”),whichincludedimagesofpolicerepressionduringstudentproteststhatmonthinterposedwithstatementsbyPresidentCorreapraisingthepolice.YouTubereinstatedthevideoinOctoberafteranappealbytheauthor.43Mostrecently,inMay2015,atakedownnoticefromAresRightscausedtheremovaloftheYouTubepageofthedigitalrightsgroupUsuariosDigitales(“DigitalUs-ers”),althoughitwasquicklyrestored.44AresRightshasissuedrequestsfortheremovalofmorethanadozenphotos,videos,anddocumentsthatpaintedthegovernmentinanunflatteringlight.45

InJuly2014,activistsinEcuadorreportedthesuspensionoffourTwitteraccountsknowntobecriticalofthegovernment,althoughitisstillunclearwhatmotivatedthesesuspensionsorwhethertheyweretriggeredbylegitimateviolationsofthecompany’stermsofuse.46InNovember2014,thepoliticallyactiveTwitteruserDianaAmoresdenouncedTwitterforsuspendingheraccountduetoacopyrightinfringementclaimissuedbyAresRights.HeraccountwaspreviouslysuspendedinApril2014aftersheretweetedaletterfromthepresidenttothepeopleofQuitoduringlocalelectionsinJanuary.Onbothoccasions,Amores’accountwasrestoredafterTwitter’sevaluationofthecopyrightinfringementlawconcludedthatithadbeenusedincorrectly.47

Media, Diversity, and Content Manipulation

Althoughthe2013CommunicationsLawgivesthegovernmentbroadauthoritytocensormediacontent,Supercomhasalmostexclusivelyusedthelawtosanctionprivately-ownedtraditionalme-diaoutlets,whicharemostlyoffline.Asthesesanctionscurtailinvestigativereportingintraditional

42 JohnOtis,“ElectorallawdullsreportingasCorreanearsre-election,”CommitteetoProtectJournalists(blog),,February12,2013,http://cpj.org/x/52d9.43 ElisaVásquwz,“EcuadorrecurrealeyesdeEE.UU.paracensurercontenidoscríticosalregimendeCorrea,”[inSpanish]PanAm Post,October9,2014,http://bit.ly/1isZPKR;CristinaLuis,“PeriodistasenLatinoamérica:riesgoyluchacontraelpoder,”[inSpanish]El Mundo, December12,2014,http://mun.do/12K86D2.44 UsuariosDigitales,FacebookPost,May4,2015,12:40PM,http://on.fb.me/1FaOud8;“@MashiRafael:”Vamosaigualarelcostodeinterconexión”(14Ene2012)#TarifasPlanas,”[inSpanish],YouTubevideo,2:59,publishedbyCanal-UsariosdeInternetenEcuador,January14,2014,http://bit.ly/1FaOBVW.45 SimeonTegel,“IsEcuador’santi-imperialistpresidentusingUScopyrightlawtocensoronlinecritics,”Global Post,January23,2015,http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/150116/ecuador-critics-social-media-copyright;Seealso:TechDirt,EcuadorUsingCopyrighttoTrytoTakeDownLeakedDocumentsAboutitsSurveillancePractices,June28,2013,http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130627/22382723648/ecuador-using-copyright-to-try-to-take-down-leaked-documents-about-its-surveillance-practices.shtm46 AnnekeBall,“NoTweetsforYou:Correa’sOpponentsCensored,”PanAm Post,July25,2014,http://panampost.com/anneke-ball/2014/07/25/no-tweets-for-you-correas-opponents-censored/;“CuatrocuentascriticasalgobiernodeEcuadorfueronsuspendidasporTwitter,”[FouraccountscriticaloftheEcudoreangovernmentweresuspendedonTwitter],El Universo, July24,2014,http://bit.ly/1l0Tn8R.47 SimeonTegel,“IsEcuador’santi-imperialistpresidentusingUScopyrightlawtocensoronlinecritics,”Global Post,January23,2015,http://bit.ly/1B8GdAu;Seealso“TwittersuspendecuentadeDianaAmores,otravez”[TwitterSuspendsDianaAmores’sAccount,Again]La República,November18,2014,http://bit.ly/1OpO5X3;SeealsoFundamedios,“Twittersuspendeporterceravezcuentadeusuariaundíaantesdejornadadeprotestas,”[Twittersuspendsauser’saccountforthethirdtimethedaybeforeadayofprotests]newsrelease,November19,2014,http://bit.ly/1MEyEKf.

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media,onlinemedia—especiallysocialmedia,blogging,andreportingbycitizenjournalists—hasactuallytakenonagreaterroleinEcuador’smedialandscape.48In2014and2015,theenvironmentfordigitalmediaoutletswasmuchlessrestrictedthanthatofprintandbroadcastmedia.Neverthe-less,therearesignsthatthegovernmentisextendeditscontrolonlinethroughtheuseoftrollstomanipulatecontentonsocialmedia.Anorderofpriorcensorshipduringonenationalemergencyalsoextendedtoregularsocialmediausers,potentiallyrestrictingfreeexpressionaboutanimport-antnationalconcern.

AlthoughthereisnoclearcaseofthegovernmentusingtheCommunicationsLawtotargetdigitalmediapublicationsortotargetexclusivelyonlinecontent,thegovernment’sbroaderrestrictionsontraditionalmediaoutletslikelyaffectdigitalcontentassociatedwiththeseoutletsbothbyencour-agingself-censorshipandbyrestrictingfinancialresourcesforindependentmedia.Forexample,al-thoughofflinematerialhasbeentheprimarytargetofsanctionsinthepast,newspapersseekingtoavoidsanctionsmayavoidpublishingcontroversialarticlesinboththeofflineandonlineeditionsoftheirnewspapers.

UndertheCommunicationsLaw,theregulatorhasfinednewspapersforcontentthatwascriticalofthegovernmentandhasevenmetedoutfinestomediaoutletsforfailingtocovereventsthatmightgeneratepositivepublicity.49InthetwoyearsthattheCommunicationsLawhasbeenineffect,Su-percomhasissued313resolutions,affecting198mediaoutletsandresultingin185financialsanc-tionsagainstoutlets.50AnotherstudyofSupercomrulingsfoundthatonlyonepublicmediaoutlethaseverbeensanctioned.51FinesonnewspapersforviolationsoftheCommunicationsLaw,andtheassociatedlegalbattles,maysapresourcesfromindependentmediaoutlets.Thiseconomicimpactonprivatemediamaybeexacerbatedbythefactthatsomecompaniesappearreluctanttoadvertiseinmediathatiscriticalofthegovernment.52

Inearly2014thepopularhumoristXavierBonilla(knownasBonil)publishedacartooninboththeprintandonlineeditionsofthenewspaperEl UniversosatirizingthepoliceraidonthehomeofFranciscoVillavicencio.Thecartoon,whichwentviral,waspostedandretweetedonsocialmediathousandsoftimesbeforeBonilandEl Universowerechargedwithviolatingprovisionsofthe2013CommunicationsLaw.53Bonilwasalsoorderedtoissueaformalcorrectionofhiscartoon,andEl Universowasfinedtwopercentofitsearningsforthethreemonthspriortotheverdict.54AsofMay2015thedefenseappealisstillpending;however,inthecorrectedversionofhiscartoon,whichwasmeanttoportrayonlythefactsasreportedbytheauthorities,Bonilonceagainmanagedtocriticize

48 Examplesofnewblogsinclude:estadodepropaganda.com,insulabarataria.wordpress.com,andsentidocomun.com.49 RebecaMorla,“EcuadorianNewspaperStillFinedforNothing,”PanAm Post,May25,2015,http://bit.ly/1KvHYtf.50 TeresaMioli,“SancionescontramediosindependientescontinúanenEcuadorluegodedosañosdelaSupercom,”[SanctionsagainstindependentmediacontinueinEcuadoraftertwoyearsofSupercom],Blog Periodismo en las Americas,KnightCenteratTheUniversityofTexasAustin,July6,2015,http://bit.ly/1L0K0YL.51 Fundamedios,DosAñosdelaLeydeComunicación:Lascifrasmásalládelapropagandaoficial,”[TwoYearsoftheCommunicationsLaw:Thestatsbeyondtheofficialpropaganda],newsreléase,June24,2015,http://bit.ly/1QtidhT.52 JohnOtis,“Ecuador’syear-oldmedialawstiflesin-depthreporting,”TheCommitteetoProtectJournalists(blog),June24,2014,http://cpj.org/x/5ba8.53 TheincidentwascoveredbothinEcuadorandintheregion.InSpainandColombia:“ElcaricaturistsancionadoenEcuadorrectificaperomantienesuhumor,”[inSpanish]Internacional,February5,2014,http://bit.ly/N5ehd4;Peru:“Ecuador:BonilrectificacaricaturequemolestaCorrea,”[inSpanish]El Comercio,february5,2014,http://bit.ly/1Wdzuzk.54 AP,“’Bonil,’indignadoporsanciondelaSupercom”[‘Bonil,’OutragedbySupercomSanctions]El Comercio,February3,2014,http://bit.ly/1QTvDEH.

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thegovernmentwithanoverlypoliterenditionoftheraidthatmadelightoftherequesttoformallycorrecthiscartoon.55

InFebruary2015,BonilwassanctionedandorderedtocorrecthisworkasecondtimeundertheCommunicationsLawafterhepublishedacartoonmockingacongressman,whichtheregulatordeemedtobediscriminatory.56Apparently,however,thesanctiondidnotleadtoremovaloftheon-linecontent:asofMay2015,itwaspossibletoseetheoriginalsofbothsanctionedcartoonsonEl Universo’s website,aswellasthecorrectionofthecartoonsatirizingtheraidonVillavicencio.57

AlthoughtheCommunicationsLawexemptssocialmediausersfromsanctions,thegovernmenthasbeguncensoringsocialmediausersthroughothermeans.Inoneparticularlyconcerningcase,thegovernmentcompletelyprohibiteddiscussionaboutanationalemergency,notonlyforthemediabutalsoforindividualsocialmediausers.OnAugust15,2015,PresidentCorreasignedadecreedeclaringastateofemergencywhenavolcano,Cotopaxi,located50kmsouthofQuito,beganspewingashafter73yearsofinactivity.Inthedecree,thegovernmentprohibitedthemediaandsocialmediausersfromdiscussingthevolcanoinorderto“avoidrumorsanddisinformation.”58Freespeechorganizationsroundlycondemnedthisactionforunderminingtheroleofthemediainpro-tectingpeoplefromdisaster,disseminatinginformation,andholdingthegovernmentaccountableforitsresponse.

LegislationintroducedtoEcuador’sNationalAssemblyinJune2014wouldcreateaconstitutionalamendmenttoclassifycommunicationsasapublicservice.Althoughthe2013CommunicationsLawalreadyhasasimilarprovision,aconstitutionalamendmentwouldcementandstrengthenthisprinciple.Freespeechadvocatesworrythattheamendment,whichwasstillunderdebateasofMay2015,woulderodefreespeech,asthegovernmentmightexpandtheuseitsregulatorypowerstodeterminecontent.59

SocialmediaisextremelypoliticizedinEcuador,andthegovernmenthasregularlyencouragedsocialmediauserstoattackindividualswhoinsult,threaten,orcriticizethegovernment.ThemostnotablecaseoccurredinJanuary2015whenPresidentCorreacriticizedthreesocialmediausersinhisweeklypresidentialaddress.60Shortlyafterthepresidentcalledoutcritics,thegovernmentan-nouncedthecreationofawebsite,SomosMas (“WeAreMore”).Accordingtoagovernmentnewsbulletin,thepurposeofSomosMasistoconnectfollowersto“governmentcampaignsaimedatdemocratizingaccesstomediaandendingabusesonsocialmedia”and“tocreateafrontagainstattacksfrompeople,whohidinginanonymity,arealwayspresentinvirtualspaces.”61Criticsarguedthatthiswebsitewouldencouragefollowerstorevealprivateinformationaboutanonymoussocialmediausersandwouldunleashthousandsoftrollstoharassgovernmentcritics.62Althoughthe

55 ReportersWithoutBorders,“BonilRectifieswithSarcasticCartoon,”February3,2014,http://bit.ly/1ajKwz4.56 CommitteetoProtectJournalists,“Ecuadorissuessanctionsforcartoonmockingcongressman,”February23,2015,http://cpj.org/x/5f15.57 “Caricaturas,”[Caricatures]El Universo, http://www.eluniverso.com/caricaturas.58 ReportersWithoutBorders,“WhyisEcuadorCensoringCoverageofVolcano’sActivity,”August18,2015,http://bit.ly/1KuojdA.59 JohnOtis,“HowEcuador’splanstomakecommunicationsapublicserviceisthreattofreepress,”CommitteetoProtectJournalists (blog),January20,2015,http://cpj.org/x/5eaf.60 AP,“EcuadorPresident’sSocialMediaCounterAttack,”New York Times,February2,2015,http://nyti.ms/1V5MFjr.61 “Únasewww.somosmas.ec,porlaverdaderalibertaddeexpresiónenlasredessociales,”[Signupwww.somosmas.ec,forthetruelibertyofexpressioninsocialnetworks],El Ciudadano,February1,2015,http://bit.ly/1j30mno.62 RebeccaMorla,“Ecuador’sCorreaRecruitsLegionofSocialMediaTrolls,”PanAm Post,January26,2015,http://bit.ly/1QTzykP.

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SomosMasinitiativeultimatelyfailedtocatchonandgatherthearmyofhoped-forsupporters,thedirectinvolvementoftheexecutiveinimplicitlyencouragingharassmentandattacksonanonymityisconcerning.63

TheEcuadoriangovernmenthasalsobeenaccusedofmanipulatingconversationsonlineviapro-governmentcommentators,reportedlyemployedtocounteroppositionvoices.In2012,aseriesofinterviewswithgovernmentinsidersandinvestigativejournalspointedtotheexistenceofadigitalarmyslanderinganddiscreditingdissidentsonline.64Unconfirmedreportsin2015alsodetailedtheexistenceofonlineusersemployedtomonitorandrespondtooppositionsocialmediawithprogov-ernmentpropaganda.65

Thenewtelecommunicationslaw,passedinFebruary2015,protectsnetneutralityinprincipleandstatesthataccessproviderscannot“restrict,block,interfere,discriminate,hinder,prioritize,orrestricttherightsoftheirusersorsubscriberstouse,send,receiveorofferanycontent,application,devel-opmentorlegalservicethroughtheinternet.”Civilsocietygroups,however,haveraisedconcernsthattheseprotectionsareweakenedbyotherprovisionsinthelawwhichprovidersmaybeabletoexploitasloopholestonetneutrality.66InApril2015,theMinistryofTelecommunicationsruledthatmobileinternetproviderscouldnotlimitcallsonWhatsApp,afterseveralmobileprovidershadproposedlimitingthisserviceincertainplans.TheMinistrycitedthenewtelecommunicationslaw’sprotectionsofnetneutralityasthebasisforitsruling.67

Digital Activism

Duringlate-2014andearly-2015,acontroversialconstitutionalrevisionandfinancialshortagestriggeredprotestsandsocialmovementsacrossEcuador.68Bysummerof2015,protestsovertheseissues,aswellasproposedtaxincreases,gatheredsteam,andaseriesofmobilizationsbroughtthousandsofpeopleintothestreets.69Socialmediahastakenonacentralroleinactivismandcit-izenreportinginthecontextofthesedemonstrations.70Earlierintheyear,socialmediausersandinternetfreedomorganizationsalsoralliedtodefendsocialmediauserstargetedbythepresidentandgovernmentsupporters.

PresidentCorrea’stargetedattacksontheFacebookpageCrudoEcuadorgalvanizedmanypeopletodefenditandinternetfreedommorebroadly(seeIntimidationandViolence).Afterthepresidentappearedtoencouragefollowersto“dox”anonymousonlinecritics,exposingtheiridentifyingin-

63 AP,“EcuadorPresident’sSocialMediaCounterAttack.”64 “DirigentedeSPRevelaSupuesto‘Ejercito’deCuentasFalsaenEcuador”[SPRevealsAlleged‘Army’ofFakeAccountsinEcuador],El Universo,February28,2012,http://bit.ly/1Fpv83Q;MacaLara-Dillon,“Inedito:GobiernodeEcuadorHabriaMontadoun‘TrollCenter’”[Unpublished:GovernmentofEcuadorhasSetUpaTrollCenter]Pulso Social,March1,2012,http://bit.ly/1gGxkrY;“RafaelCorreaAskedtheSENAINtoInvestigateTwitterAccounts,”Ecuador Times,January25,2013,http://bit.ly/1OLhbzd.65 RebeccaMorla,“Correa’sSocial-MediaTrollCenterExposedinQuito,”March25,2015,http://bit.ly/1N9vv2f.66 Forexample,onedigitalrightsactivisthasraisedconcernsaboutArticle22ofthelaw,whichallowsproviderstoestablishtariffplansconsistingofoneormoreservicesorproductsofoneormoreservices.AndrésDelgado,“LaneutralidaddelaredsedebilitaenEcuador,”[inSpanish]Digital Rights Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC),January31,2015,http://bit.ly/1OeLeNe.67 “OperadorasenEcuadornopuedenlimitarfuncionalidaddellamadasporWhatsApp,”El Telegrafo,April30,2015,http://bit.ly/1LrzRmK.68 MercedesAlvaro,“ProtestersinEcuadorDemonstrateAgainstCorrea’sPolicies,”The Wall Street Journal,June25,2015,http://on.wsj.com/1LKZtIG.69 AP,“GeneralstrikehitsEcuadorinCorreaprotest,”Deutsche Welle, http://bit.ly/1FaX2Ra;Reuters,ProtestRoilEcuadorAheadofPopeFrancis’Visit,”NBC News,July4,2015,http://nbcnews.to/1L0NbQn.70 Velazco,“TheInternet,aStagingPostforProtestsinEcuadorUnderThreat.”

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formationtofacilitateharassment,severalinternetfreedomorganizationsdraftedandsignedtheManifestofortheFreedomofExpression,Anonymity,andOnlinePrivacyinEcuador,adefenseofthedecentralizedinternetandonlineanonymity.71

InternetanddigitalrightsorganizationscelebratedapartialvictoryafterthenewpenalcodewentintoeffectinAugust2014.Althoughitcontainsseveralconcerningprovisions(seeLegalEnviron-ment),thecodewentintoeffectwithoutsomeofthemostcontroversialanti-privacyprovisionsasaresultofdigitalactivism.In2013,theinternetactivistorganizationsUsuariosDigitales(“DigitalUsers”),AperturaRadical(“RadicalOpenness”),andAsociacióndeSoftwareLibredelEcuador(“Ecua-dorAssociationofFreeSoftware”)launchedacampaignonsocialmediaunderthehashtag#Inter-netLibretolobbyagainsttheproposedsurveillanceprovisionsinArticle474oftheproposedpenalcode.72HadthenewpenalcodebeenapprovedwithArticle474intact,ISPswouldhavebeenforcedtorecordalluseractivity—includingIPaddresses—forsixmonths,andcybercafeswouldalsohavebeenrequiredtoinstallsurveillanceequipmentinordertorecordvideofootageofcustomers.73Dueinlargeparttocivilsocietyaction,legislatorsremovedArticle474beforethenewpenalcodewaspassedinNovember2013.74

Despiteamixedrecordoninternetfreedom,theEcuadoriangovernmenthascreatedsomeprom-isinginitiativestopromoteopengovernmentandonlinecitizenparticipationonissuesrelatedtointernetfreedomandprivacy.InFebruary2014,forexample,theNationalSecretaryforHigherEdu-cation,InnovationandTechnologylaunchedtheregion’sfirstwikilegislationproject(WikiCOESC+i).ThisfreelyaccessiblesiteallowedcitizensofEcuadorandothernationstoproposechangestotheOrganicCodeforSocialEconomyofKnowledgeandInnovation,withthegoalofdesigningaframe-workforthe“inclusiveanddemocratic”developmentofanopenknowledgesociety.75Morethan16,000usersparticipatedinthecreationofthislegalcode,whichunderwentmorethan40,000textedits.InJune2015,theresultingInnovationCode,whichclassifiesinternetasabasicserviceandsignificantlyreformsEcuador’sintellectualpropertyregulation,waspresentedtothelegislativeas-semblyfordebate.76

Violations of User Rights

Although prosecutions and physical attacks against online users are rare in Ecuador, some users have faced harassment and threats, government surveillance, and technical attacks. In 2015, President Correa targeted critical social media users in his televised presidential address, encouraging followers

71 AgenciadeNoticiasMedioaMedio.“Ecuador:Usuariosdigitalespronuncianporlalibertaddelaexpresióneninternet,”February5,2015,http://bit.ly/1QTCttS.72 UsuariosDigitales,CampaignlaunchedonFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/InternetEcuador;Seealso:GKillCity.com,“FreeInternet,”November18,2013,http://gkillcity.com/dossier/internet-libre73 JuanArellano,“EcuadorianActivistsSayNotoCybercafeSurveillance,”trans.VictoriaRobertson,Global Voices Advocacy,November19,2013,http://bit.ly/1L0NTNi.74 “[2013Assessment]PrivacyandSurveillanceinEcuador,”trasn.AmaliaToledo,Digital Rights LAC,January28,2014,http://bit.ly/1WdEcgl.75 SecretariadeEducacionSuperior,Ciencia,TecnologiaeInnovacion,CódigoOrgánicodeEconomíaSocialdelConocimientoeInnovación[OrganicCodeforSocialEconomyofKnowledgeandInnovation]accessedApril21,2014,http://bit.ly/1mjp29X.76 Thiseventoccurredaftertheformalcoverageperiodforthisreport.“CódigoINGENIOSllegaalLegislativoparacambiar“lahistoria”yfomentarelconocimientoenEcuador,”[InnovationCodearrivesinthelegislaturatochange‘history’andspurknowledgeinEcuador],PublicAgencyofNewsfromEcuadorandSouthAmerica,June4,2015,http://bit.ly/1V5LCVZ;SeealsoAndrésJaramillo,“CódigoOrgánicodelaEconomíadelConocimientoecuatorianoserápresentadoenlaAsamblea,”[OrganicCodeoftheKnowledgeEconomywillbepresentedintheAssembly]El Comercio,May24,2015,http://bit.ly/1NOOqm5.

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to dox anonymous users. The president’s statements contributed to an environment of harassment, in which multiple social media users faced online and offline threats. In August 2014, the new penal code entered into force. Although the penal code eliminates some charges for defamation, it retains several provisions that limit freedom of expression.

Legal Environment

Ecuador’sconstitutionguarantees“universalaccesstoinformationtechnologiesandcommunica-tion”(Article16.2),andconferstheabilitytoexerciseone’srighttocommunication,information,andfreedomofexpression(Article384).77Thecountry,however,facesseveralthreatstofreeexpression,includingcriminalprovisionsagainstlibel,governmentregulationandoversightofmediacontent,andconcernsaboutjudicialindependence.78

InAugust2014,thenewpenalcodeenteredintoforce.Althoughiteliminatescriminalchargesforinsult,itretainscriminalchargesforslanderandlibel,aswellasrestrictionsonsocialprotestsandprivacyprotectionsthatsomecriticsworrymaylimitinvestigativereportingandwhistleblowing.79Article179establishesaprisonsentenceofsixmonthstoayearforanyperson“who,byvirtueofhis/herstateoroffice,employment,profession,orart,hasknowledgeofasecretwhosedivulgementmightcauseharmtoanotherandrevealsit.”Thearticlemakesnoexceptionforrevealinginforma-tionforthepublicinterest.Article229placesfurtherrestrictionsondivulginginformationbyban-ningtherevelationofregisteredinformation,databases,orarchivesthroughelectronicsystemsinawaythatviolatestheintimacyorprivacyofsomeoneelse.Again,thereisnoexceptioninthisarticleforwhistleblowersorjournalists.Article307establishesapenaltyoffivetosevenyearsinprisonforcreatingeconomicpanicby“publishing,spreading,ordivulgingfalsenewsthatcauseharmtothenationaleconomyinordertoalterthepricesofgoods.”80

The2013CommunicationsLawgrantsagovernmentmediaoversightcommitteethepowertoreg-ulatemediaandissuecivilandcriminalpenaltiestojournalistsormediaoutletswhofailtoreportinamannerthattheregulatordeemsfairandaccurate.Althoughthelawhasnotbeenusedtotargetorfineexclusivelydigitalmediaoutlets,Article3ofthelawexpandstheregulator’scontrolto“allmediawithanonlinepresence.”Thevaguelanguageinthelawraisesconcernsthatitwillbeusedtotargetonlinemediainthefuture(seeContentRemovalandMedia,Diversity,andOnlineContentManipulation).

Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities

Therewerenoknowncasesofjournalistsoronlineusersbeingjailedordetainedforonlinespeech.Oneisolatedinstanceofauserbeingsentencedinacivilcourtto15to30daysofjailtimeforonlinedefamationwasquicklydismisseduponappeal.Nevertheless,thelegalharassmentofofflinejour-nalistswithchargesofcriminallibelandotherchargesunderthe2013CommunicationsLawraisesconcernsthatinthefuturetheselawswillbeexpandedtoprosecuteonlinereporters.81

77 MinesteriodeTelecomunicacionesyScoiedaddelaInformación,“AutoridadesdelMINTELsereunieronconusuariosdigitales”[MINTELAuthoritiesMetwithDigitalUsers],newsrelease,August13,2012,http://bit.ly/1it9mBB.78 HumanRightsWatch,“Ecuador:EnsureJudicialIndependence,”January29,2014,http://bit.ly/1MEILif.79 “Lainjuriayanoesdelito,”[Insultisnolongeracrime]El Diario,August5,2014,http://bit.ly/1OpWQjZ.80 ThetextofthenewPenalCodecanbereadhere:MinisteriodeJusticia,DerechosHumanosyCultos,Código Orgánico Integral Penal,2014,http://bit.ly/1juCXok.81 Fundamedios,“ExcandidatadenunciaadosmediosantelaSupercomydemandapenalmenteaunodesusdirectivos,”[in

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InOctober2014,theCivilCourtinthecityofSucúasentencedtheformercitycouncilor,JaquelineGonzález,tofifteendaysinprisonforallegedlypostingaFacebookcommentthatdenouncedalandconflict,implicatinganindigenousleaderandalawyerinthelandinvasion.GonzálezdeniedthattheFacebookaccount,whichwasunderthenameJakelinGonzalez,evenbelongedtoher.Despitethiscontention,shewasfoundguiltyunderArticle396ofthePenalCode,whichprohibitstheprofferingofexpressionsthat“discreditordishonor”someoneelseunderpenaltyofa15to30dayprisonsen-tence.82Uponsecondappeal,Gonzálezwasdeclaredinnocent,andsheneverservedjailtime.83

Onlinewritershavealsoincurredhighpenaltiesincivillibelcases.WhenonlinebloggerMiguelPalaciosFrugonesuedPresidentCorreaforlibelafterthepresidentcalledhima“rapist,”PresidentCorrearespondedinkindbycountersuingPalaciosfordefamationovertwentyarticlesthathepro-ducedonhisblogDesde mi Trinchera (“FrommyTrench”)criticizingthepresident.OnJuly22,2015,theNationalCourtofJusticeruledinPresidentCorrea’sfavorandorderedPalaciostopayafineofUS$46,000for“moraldamage”incurredbyatleasttwoofhisonlineposts.84

SeveralindividualshavebeenarrestedonchargesthattheyhackedthepersonalTwitteroremailaccountsofPresidentCorrea.InMay2014,thegovernmentdetainedtwoteenageboysonchargesofhackingthepresident’sTwitteraccount;however,theywerereleasedthefollowingmorningduetolackofevidence.85InDecember2013,PresidentCorreaannouncedthathisemailhadbeeninter-ceptedbyrepresentativeCléverJiménezandonlinejournalistFernandoVillavicencio—bothofwhomalreadyfacedlibelchargesfromareporttheywroteaskingtheAttorneyGeneraltoinvestigatethepresident’sroleinorderinganarmedinterventioninahospitalduringproteststhatyear.Afterraidsontheiroffices,theywereaccusedofhigh-levelespionage,althoughtheywerenevercharged.AsofJune2015,theinvestigationintotheespionagecasewasstillopen.86

InJanuary2014,thecourtsentencedJiménezandVillavicenciotoeighteenmonthsinprisonforlibel,andbothindividualswentintohiding.87InMarch2015,however,thecourtdismissedcharges,inlightofthenumerousdelaysinjudicialprocessandchangesinthepenalcodeeliminatingcrimi-nallibel.CarlosFigueroa,adoctorandactivistinvolvedinthesamecase,wasalsochargedandhadalreadycompletedasentenceofsixmonthsinprisonbythetimethecourtreevaluatedthecase.88Althoughthelibelchargespertainedtoanofflinereport,thefreespeechorganizationFundamedioshasraisedthepossibilitythatVillavicenciowastargetedpartiallyinretaliationforwritingaboutcor-ruptionfortheonlinepublicationPlan V.89

Spanish]June12,2014,http://bit.ly/1OpXz4G.82 Fundamedios,“Exconcejalaessentenciadaa15díasdeprisiónporuncomentarioenfacebook,”[inSpanish]November13,2014,http://bit.ly/1KvLJ1S.83 InterviewwithexpertatFundamedios,July31,2015.84 BelénMarty,“RafaelCorreaFinesColumnistforLibelandCallsHimaRapist,”PanAm Post,July29,2015,http://bit.ly/1OLlF9g;“MiguelPalaciossobresentenciaafavordelpresidenteCorrea:‘MesientounahormigaenfrentandoaKingKong’,”El Comercio, July27,2015,http://bit.ly/1OLnTFA.85 UnivisionNoticias,“DosjóvenessonsospechososdehackearlascuentasdeRafaelCorrea,”[inSpanish]May30,2014,http://bit.ly/1Jl5HLU.86 SorayaConstante,“LoscondenadosporinjuriaraCorreayanotienenqueesconderse,“[ThoseconvictedforinsultingCorreanolongerhavetohide],El País,March24,2015,http://bit.ly/1KqPo3W.87 DiegoCruz,“JudgesentencesEcuadorianjournalistFernandoVillavicencioto18monthsinprison,”Journalism in the Americas Blog, TheKnightCenterattheUniversityofTexasAustin,March26,2014,http://bit.ly/1iIWTui.88 SorayaConstante,“LoscondenadosporinjuriaraCorreayanotienenqueesconderse.”89 SaraRafsky,“Correaintensificaelconflicto;ambaspartesdenuncianataquescibernéticos,”CommitteetoProtectJournalists,(blog),January17,2014,http://cpj.org/x/5850.

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Surveillance, Privacy, and Anonymity

LittleinformationisavailableabouttheextentofsurveillanceinEcuador;however,thecurrentlegalstructureprovideslittleprotectionfromthegovernmentcollectionofmetadata.Civilsocietygroupshaverepeatedlyraisedconcernsaboutthecountry’sinvestmentsinadvancedsurveillancetechnolo-gy;mostrecently,theseconcernshavecenteredontheEcuadoriangovernment’scontractswiththeItaliantechnologycompanyHackingTeam.Anonymityalsocameunderattackduringthecoverageperiod.AlthoughneitheranonymousnorencryptedcommunicationsareprohibitedinEcuador,inJanuary2015thegovernmentencouragedfollowerstodoxanonymoussocialmediauserswhowerecriticalofthegovernment.TheinternetrightsadvocacyorganizationUsuariosDigitalesstronglycondemnedthisactionasaviolationofusers’righttoanonymityontheinternet.90

AfterthesecuritybreachattheItalianinformationtechnologycompanyHackingTeamonJuly6,2015,severalsites,includingWikiLeaks,publishedthecompany’sleakedemailexchanges.91Therevelationstriggeredamajorscandalworldwidebecausemanyofthecompany’sclientsweregov-ernmentswithahistoryofhumanrightsviolations.InLatinAmerica,Ecuadorappearedasoneoftheirmajorcustomers,thirdonlytoMexicoandChile.AlthoughEcuador’sintelligenceagencydeniedhavingcontractswithHackingTeam,92evidencefromleakedemailssuggeststhatnotonlydidthegovernmenthavecontractswiththecompanyforsurveillancetechnology,itmayhaveusedthistechnologytotargetoppositionfiguresoractivistswithmalware.93TheEcuadorianintelligenceagencySENAINsentseveralrequeststoaHackingTeamcustomersupportengineerforassistanceinsendingspywaretoemailandphoneaccountsthatappeartobelinkedtoCarlosFigueroa,anoppositionactivist.Atthetime,Figueroawasinhidingfromthegovernmentafterbeingchargedwithlibel,inwhatmanyregardedasapoliticallymotivatedcase.LeakedemailsalsosuggestthatthegovernmentusedHackingTeamtoolstodevelopdocumentsbooby-trappedwithmalware,givingthemtitlesthatreferencetheYasuniwildernessreserve.Criticshaveraisedconcernsthatthesedoc-umentsmayhavebeencreatedtoensnareenvironmentalorindigenousactivistswhoareinvolvedinprotestsagainstgovernmentplanstodrillforoilinthereserve.Inthewakeoftherevelations,sever-aljournalsandonlinemagazinessuffereddistributeddenial-of-service(DDoS)attacksafterpublish-inginformationregardingtheleaks.94

TheHackingTeamrevelationshavesparkedamajordebateintraditionalmediaoutletsandonsocialmedia.95Intheweeksaftertheleak,mediaactivistsandhouserepresentativesprotestedoutsidetheofficesofSenain(NationalIntelligenceOffice)locatedinthesuburbsofQuito,96andprotestsagainstthegovernment,alreadywidespreadinthesummerof2015,begantoincorporatedemandsfortransparencyoversurveillanceofcitizens.

BeyondtheHackingTeamleaks,thereissomeevidencethattheEcuadoriangovernmenthasalso

90 AgenciadeNoticiasMedioaMedio.“Ecuador:Usuariosdigitalespronuncianporlalibertaddelaexpresióneninternet,”[inSpanish]February5,2015,http://bit.ly/1QTCttS.91 KifLeswing,“HackingTeamSpywareLeakedOntoGitHub,AndItLooksLikeIt’sGoingToStayThere,”International Business Times,July8,2015,http://bit.ly/1Qtxnnb.92 DiegoBravo,“LaSenaindicequenohacontratadoaHackingTeam,”El Comercio,July10,2015,http://bit.ly/1ULJoIK.93 AP,“Correction:Ecuador-HackingTheOppositionStory.”94 SamuelWoolley,“#HackingTeamLeaks:EcuadorisSpendingMillionsonMalware,Pro-GovernmentTrolls,”Global Voices,August4,2015,http://bit.ly/1QtxU8A.95 InteviewsontheChannel1editorialjournalwithAndrésCarrión:“EnlaPolémica–HackingTeamySENAIN,”YouTubevideo,58:05,publishedbyAldoCassola,July20,2015,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hC4r2mlFX0.96 ActivistsandopposingpoliticiansatSenainsofficeinQuito:“AsambleístasintentaroningresarasupuestasinstalcionesdelaSenain,”El Universo,July15,2015,http://bit.ly/1YvzvAK.

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investedinthepurchaseofothersurveillancesystems.TheRussiancompanySpeechTechnologyCenterallegedininternationalmediareportsthatEcuadorinstalledtheworld’sfirstbiometricsur-veillancesystemwithvoiceandfacialidentificationcapabilities.Authoritiescanusethissoftwaretobuildupalibraryofvoiceprintsofcriminalsorotherindividualsandthenuseittoidentifyindividu-alsininterceptedcalls.97Documentshavealsosurfaceddetailinggovernmentattemptstopurchasesurveillancedronesfromoverseascontractors.98Thegovernmenthasdefendeditsrighttoconductsurveillanceincriminalinvestigations,buthassaidthatitdoesnotengageinsuchactivitiesforpo-liticalpurposes.99Todate,theadministrationhasneitherconfirmednordeniedreportsoftheinstal-lationofabiometricsurveillancesystemorofattemptstopurchasedronesforsurveillance.100

Ecuador’slegalframeworkprovidesthegovernmentwithbroadauthoritytorequestuserinforma-tionwithoutjudicialoversight.The2015OrganicLawonTelecommunicationsguaranteesuserpri-vacyandrequiresserviceproviderstonotifyusersinthecaseofthirdpartyinterceptionofcommu-nications.Despitesuchpositiveprovisions,however,Article84saysthatserviceprovidersmustgiveauthoritiesaccesstodataforthepurposeofinvestigatingcrimes.101ThearticlesaysthatArcotelwillestablishthenecessaryprovisionsforaccesstothisdataatafuturedate,butitisnotclearthatthelawwillrequireajudicialorderforaccesstodata.Thisisconsistentwithprevioustelecommunica-tionsregulations.In2012,theTelecommunicationServiceSubscribersandAddedValueRegulationResolutionauthorizedthetelecommunicationsregulatortotrackIPaddressesfromISPcustomerswithoutajudicialorder.102In2013,civilsocietysuccessfullyblockedagovernmentinitiativethatwouldhaverequiredISPstorecordandstorealluserdataforsixmonthsandwouldhaveforcedcybercafestorecordvideofootageofcustomers.103

Althoughcybercafesdonothavetofilmusers,thegovernmentrequiresthatcybercafeusersregis-terwiththeMinistryofTelecommunicationswiththeirfullname,phonenumber,passportnumber,votingcertificatenumber,emailaddress,andhomeaddress.Usersmustalsoagreetotermsthatstipulatethatallinformationenteredintothedatabaseduringusefallsunderthejurisdictionofthetelecommunicationsregulator.104Ifauserinfringesonthetermsandcriminalchargesareapplicabletothetransgression,theuserwillbeprosecutedunderEcuador’spenalcode.

Intimidation and Violence

Althoughlevelsofharassmentandviolentthreatsagainstjournalistsdidnotreachthesamelevelsin

97 RyanGallagher,“EcuadorImplements‘World’sFirst”CountrywideFacial-andVoice-RecognitionSystem,”Future Tense (blog),Slate,December12,2012,http://slate.me/1j38Tqj;Seealso:PlanetBiometrics,“EcuadordeploysnationwidevoiceandfacebiometricsIDsystem,”November12,2012,http://bit.ly/1iIY4Kh.98 RosieGrayandAdrianCarrasquillo,“Exclusive:DocumentsIlluminateEcuador’sSpyingPractices,”Buzzfeed, June25,2013,http://bzfd.it/1FYaind.99 RosieGrayandAdrianCarrasquillo,“EcuadorDefendsDomesticSurveillance,”Buzzfeed,June27,2013,http://bzfd.it/1QTLK4U.100 DiegoCupolo,“DroneUseSoarsinLatinAmerica,RemainsWidelyUnregulated,”Upside Down World,December19,2013,http://bit.ly/19VJ2VS.101 AsambleaNacionalRepublicadelEcuador,LeyOrgánicadeTelecomunicaciones[TelecommunicationLaw]http://bit.ly/1Kvdp7W.102 SeeArticle29.9;http://bit.ly/1GPH0aE103 “[2013Assessment]PrivacyandSurveillanceinEcuador,”Digital Rights LAC,January28,2014,http://bit.ly/1WdEcgl.104 ThetermsoftheagreementrefertoSenatelandthesuperintendenceoftelecommunications,Supertel.AlthoughthesetwobodieshavebeensubsumedunderArcotel,thenewtelecommunicationsauthorityestablishedin2015,theonlineformusedtoregistercybercafeshasyettochangethepreviouslanguagetoindicatethis.SENATEL,“RegistrodeCibercafesOnLine”[RegistrationofCybercafesOnline],accessedAugust6,2013,http://bit.ly/1WdJJ6P.

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Ecuadorasinothercountriesintheregion,thedirectinvolvementofthepresidentinincitingsocialmediabattles,withlittleconcernabouttheharassmentandviolencethatcouldresult,representsaworrisomedevelopment.Duringthecoverageperiod,socialmediacompetitionbetweenpro-gov-ernmentsupportersandtheoppositionescalated,withbothgovernmentsupportsandcriticsissu-ingthreatsagainstoneanother,105andwithleastoneindividualreceivingdeaththreatsathishomeafterthepresidentrepeatedlycalledforsocialmediauserstocriticizehim.

InhisweeklytelevisedpresidentialaddressinJanuary2015,PresidentRafaelCorreaidentifiedsocialmediaaccountsthathadusedTwitterorFacebooktocriticizeorinsulthimandcalledforhisfollow-erstocriticizetheseusersonline.106AmongtheaccountscalledoutbythepresidentwasthepopularFacebookpageCrudoEcuador,whichhadrecentlypublishedamemejuxtaposinganimageofthePresidentCorreashoppinginanupscaleEuropeanmallwithadeclarationthepresidenthadmadethatonlineshoppersshouldbetaxedforbuyinggoodsfromoverseas.107Atthetime,theadministra-torofCrudoEcuadorwasanonymous,whichthepresidentusedasammunitionforabroaderattackononlineanonymity.Duringhisaddress,Correasaid“wearealsogoingtoidentifythesepeopletoseeiftheyaresohumorouswhenthewholeworldknowswhotheyare…Iftheysendonetweet,wewillsend10,000.”108Thefollowingweek,PresidentCorreaannouncedthecreationofSomosMas,awebsitewherepeoplecouldshareinformationaboutsocialmediauserswhowerecriticizingthegovernment.109CriticsallegedthatCorreawasmarshallinghisfollowersfortheexpresspurposeofharassingsocialmediausers.

Shortlyafterthetelevisionannouncement,TwitterusersdoxedtheadministratorofCrudoEcuador,GabrielGonzález,revealinghisname,hisaddress,hisIDnumber,thenamesofhisfamilymembers,andacellphonepictureofhimtakenatamall.GonzálezsaidthatsomeofthisinformationcamefromconfidentialdocumentshefiledtoregistertheCrudoEcuadorbrandwiththeEcuadorianInstituteofIntellectualProperty.110OnFebruary19,2015,GonzálezshutdowntheTwitteraccountofCrudoEcuadorandstoppedpostingontheFacebookpage,announcingtheshutdownwiththehashtag#UstedGanó(“YouWon”)andcitingharassmentandthreatsasthemotive.Gonzálezalsopostedapictureofabouquetofflowerswithathreateningnotethathehadreceivedwhileonvaca-tionwithhisfamily.111

Althoughthepresident’scampaignagainstCrudoEcuadorandotherTwitterusersgainedmoreat-tentionintheinternationalmediathanpreviouscampaigns,112itwasnotthefirsttimethatthepres-

105 Abuseofsocialmediausersfrompro-governmentsupportersiswell-documented,butitappearsthatintheenvironmentofahighlypolarizedsocialmediawar,governmentcriticshavealsoleveledthreatsandattacksagainstnormalsocialmediausers.TheTwitteraccountAnonymousEcuadorhasbegunidentifyingpro-governmentsupportersandencouragingitsfollowersto“sendagreetingtothisCorreasupporter,”oftenunleashingaflurryofcriticismsaswellasviolentattacks.Forexample:NuevaFuerzaRural,Facebookpost,August20,2015,http://on.fb.me/1LrFnpt.106 SantiagoEstrella,“ElGobiernoinvestigaaCrudoEcuadoryestelerespondeconotromeme,”El Comercio,January18,2015,http://bit.ly/1usXg0M.107 ManuelRueda,“Ecuador’spresidentdeclaresawaronmemes,”Fusion,January22,2015,http://fus.in/1EphhIO.108 “RafaelCorreaanunciacreacióndesitiowebSomos+paracombatirsupuesta‘campañadedesprestigio’enredes”El Comercio,January24,2015,http://bit.ly/1LrGbur.109 Thewebsitecanbeaccessedatwww.somosmas.ec110 AstoldtoSilviaViñasbyGabrielGonzaléz,“WhatHappenedWhenIJokedAboutthePresidentofEcuador,”The New York Times,May1,2015,http://nyti.ms/1E2DoiV.111 AstoldtoSilviaViñabyGabrielGonzaléz,“WhatHappenedWhenIJokedAboutthePresidentofEcuador,”The New York Times,May1,2015,http://nyti.ms/1E2DoiV;RebecaMorla,“Correa’sNemesisCrudoEcuadorShutsDownOverIntimidation,”PanAm Post,February20,2015,http://bit.ly/1RMikqc;seealsoCrudoEcuador’sFacebookpageCrudoEcuador’sFacebookPage,lastmodifiedFebruary19,2015,accessedJune4,2015,http://on.fb.me/1gGMWvw.112 TheissuewaswidelypublicizedafteritwascoveredintheHBOshowLastWeekTonightwithJohnOliver.LastWeekTonightwithJohnOliver,“Ecuador’sSensitivePresident,”YouTube video,4:11,February9,2015,https://www.youtube.com/

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identhasmarshalledhisTwitterfollowerstoinsultcritics.OnMarch29,2014,PresidentCorreadis-paragedthejournalistBettyEscobar—whohadcriticizedhistriptotheUnitedStatesinacolumninthenewspaperEl Universo—callinghera“hater”anda“coward”inhisweeklytelevisedaddressandtellingviewersto“checkout”herTwitterusername.OnApril7,2014,inathreatcloselyresemblingtheonelatersenttoCrudoEcuador,anonymousindividualssentathreateningnoteandflowerstoEscobarinNewYorkandtoherfamilyinGuayaquilEcuador.113InatelevisedspeechinFebruary2014,CorreacalledonhisTwitterfollowerstoinsultthecartoonistBonilafterhedrewacartooncriticalofthegovernment.114

Furtherincidentsin2014and2015revealedharassmentandthreatsthatappearedafterjournalistscriticizedpublicofficialsorthepolice.OnMay17,2015,AndrésMendoza,ajournalistwiththeAgen-cia Popular de Comunicación Ser Públicos,receivedathreatstatingthathewouldbekilledwithin72hoursifhedidnotremovevideoshehadpostedshowingforcedevictionsinGuayaquilandpoliceabusesduringtheseizureoftheEcuadorianTeacher’sUnemploymentFund.ThethreatarrivedtohispersonalFacebookaccountandtheemailaccountofAgencia Popular.Threedayslater,Mendozareceivedanemailreferencinghisfuneral.115InNovember2014,unknownindividualsenteredtheofficesofthedigitalandprintmediaorganizationCotopaxi Noticiasandstolesixcomputers.116InJanuary2014,politicalactivist,filmmaker,andwriterCarlosAndrésVera,whoownsthepopularblogPolificcion,wastargetedonTwitter.Afterhis3-year-oldsonwasthreatened,reportedlybyagovern-mentrepresentative,Veraannouncedthathewouldbeabandoningonlineactivismandwouldberemovinghimselffromonlinepoliticaldebate.117Therehasalsobeenatleastonereportofanindi-vidualdismissedfromhisworkastheresultofcommentaryhemadeonTwitter.118

Technical Attacks

Accusationsofdatamanipulation,hacking,andotherformsofcyberattackshavebeenleveledfrombothgovernmentandoppositiongroupsduringrecentyears.Whilesuchattacks—whichhaveincludedmodificationstowebpages(defacements),phishing,andthespreadofmalware—havebeensporadicratherthansystematic,theyappeartobeontherise.OnJuly7-8,2015,atleastthreeonlinenewsoutletsreportedDDoSattacksafterreportingoncontractsthattheEcuadoriangovern-menthadwiththeItalianinformationtechnologycompanyHackingTeam(seeSurveillance,Privacy,andAnonymity).119

watch?v=nMdDykp_KXs.113 HumanRightsFoundation,“Ecuador:HRFCondemnsHarassmentofJournalistinNYCDaysAfterSheWasVilifiedbyCorrea,”pressrelease,May15,2014,http://bit.ly/1OLt48i.114 JohnOtis,“Pressuredbygovernment,Ecuadorancartoonistisforcedtoadjust,”CommitteetoProtectJournalists(blog),July8,2014,http://cpj.org/x/5be5.115 Fundamedios,“Periodistaesamenazadodemuerteatravésdevariosmensajes,”[inSpanish]May22,2015,http://bit.ly/1JHtRVs.116 Fundamedios,“Robanmaterialperiodísticodemediodecomunicación,”[inSpanish]November7,2014,http://bit.ly/1MEOOTX.117 CarlosAndrésVera,“LoQueNoSeVe,”[inSpanish]PoliFiccion (blog),February17,2014,http://bit.ly/1LIFjx9;Hisannouncementwasmetwithsympathyfromoppositionandgovernmentsupportersalike,whoexpresseddisgustthatanactivist’schildwouldbethreatened.118 Thiseventoccurredoutsidethecoverageperiod.See:MartínPallaresesdespedidodeElComercioporsuscomentariosenTwitter,La República,August20,2015,http://bit.ly/1JbdOvG119 Thiseventoccurredoutsideofthecoverageperiodandthereforehadnoimpactonscores.SamuelWoolley,“#HackingTeamLeaks:EcuadorisSpendingMillionsonMalware,Pro-GovernmentTrolls,”GlobalVoices,August4,2015,http://bit.ly/1LIus6z.

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ThewebsitesofadvocacygroupsandnewsmediaorganizationshaveoccasionallybeensubjecttoDDoSattacksandunexplaineddisruptions.OnFebruary9,2015,thefreespeechorganizationFun-damediosannouncedthattheirwebsitesufferedaDDoSattackandwasdownforaday.TheDDoSattackoccurredafewhoursafterthereleaseoftheorganization’s2014reportonfreedomofspeechviolationsinEcuador.120Inthesamemonth,hackersattackedthewebpageofthenewspaperLa Hora,causingthesitetocrashforaday.121

In2014and2015,governmentwebsitesaswellasthepersonalemailandTwitteraccountsofgov-ernmentofficialsweresubjecttocyberattacksfromindividualswhoidentifiedwithAnonymousandothergroups.InMarch2014,Anonymoushackedthepresident’sTwitteraccount,whichitusedtotweetallegationsofcorruptionagainstahigh-levelofficialfromtheMinistersofInteriorandtheIntelligence.Despitethesecuritybreach,theaccountwasrestoredafterafewhours.122

120 Fundamedios,“PáginawebdeFundamediosesvíctimadeataquecibernético,”Altertasentry,February9,2015,http://www.fundamedios.org/alertas/pagina-web-de-fundamedios-es-victima-de-ataque-cibernetico/121 Fundamedios,“PáginawebdeFundamediosesvíctimadeataquecibernético.”122 “LaCuentadeTwitterdelPresidentFueHackeada”[TheTwitterAccountofPresidentCorreawasHacked]El Telegrafo,March27,2014,http://bit.ly/O1vvrk.