During this period, tensions between the political authorities and the press persisted, with repeated attacks and disparaging remarks against journalists and media outlets from the highest levels of government. These were compounded by restrictions on access to official sources, court decisions affecting journalistic investigations, and incidents involving threats.
Initiatives also emerged that raised concerns about their potential impact on freedom of expression. The National Sovereignty Defense bill introduced criminal offenses related to “mass disinformation” and “manipulation of public opinion.”
One of the issues that generated the greatest concern was the continued attacks against journalists by President Javier Milei. In May, the Argentine Association of Journalistic Entities (ADEPA) condemned attacks from the president’s social media accounts against journalists Débora Plager and Marcelo Bonelli.
The intensity of these attacks increased in August. Between August 17 and 23 alone, the president’s account reposted 335 messages targeting the press, in addition to 26 original posts and 21 disparaging references to journalism in public appearances. At least 16 journalists were singled out by name, and nine media companies were criticized.
Concern was also raised by comments made by the president during a presentation on ethics and artificial intelligence to students at the ORT School in Buenos Aires, where he encouraged expressions of hostility toward journalists and urged students to “boo” independent journalists. ADEPA considered it particularly alarming that the incident occurred in front of teenagers and inside an educational institution.
On August 25, Economy Minister Luis Caputo, responding to a news report he considered false, said that “the courts should act” and that a law was needed to punish such conduct. Milei subsequently endorsed the proposal. ADEPA warned that legislation aimed at punishing information deemed false by government authorities could have a chilling effect on the investigation and dissemination of matters of public interest.
In September, ADEPA expressed concern over provisions of the National Sovereignty Defense bill submitted by the Executive Branch to Congress. The bill provides for prison sentences for those who, on behalf of, at the direction of, or with foreign financing, engage in activities intended to “alter electoral processes” or “manipulate public opinion” through coordinated “mass disinformation” campaigns. ADEPA considered the goal of protecting sovereignty and democratic integrity from foreign interference legitimate, but warned about the broad scope of concepts such as “disinformation,” “manipulating public opinion,” and “coordinated campaign.” It said the lack of precise definitions could have a chilling effect on journalists and media outlets and announced that it would submit a legal analysis of the bill to Congress.
Regarding access to information, disputes continued over restrictions on accredited journalists’ access to the Casa Rosada, while restrictions were also reported in the Chamber of Deputies and the Ministry of Economy. In June, ADEPA also challenged a resolution by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of San Juan ordering officials and agents to refrain from providing unauthorized information and directing all media inquiries to a single authority. The organization warned of the risk of creating an official monopoly on information.
Court decisions affecting journalistic work were also reported. In May, Pilar Judge Walter Federico Saettone issued precautionary measures following a complaint by Argentine Football Association (AFA) President Claudio Tapia against several individuals, including journalists investigating matters related to the organization.
The measures included bans on contact and the dissemination of information. ADEPA argued that they would prevent basic journalistic activities such as seeking information, asking questions, and investigating matters of public interest. The Criminal Appeals and Guarantees Chamber of San Isidro subsequently overturned the restrictions affecting journalists Nicolás Pizzi, Federico Teijeiro, Bruno Yacono, Luis Gasulla, and Mariano Roa.
Other judicial rulings were viewed as favorable to press freedom. The courts ordered the definitive dismissal of journalist Daniel Santoro in the case involving Marcelo D’Alessio and rejected a request to de-index publications concerning allegations against a theater director who was later acquitted. A court also ordered the provisional restoration of journalist Alejandro Pueblas’ digital accounts.
A particularly serious incident occurred in Formosa in September. The Las Lomitas Court of Minor Claims and Peace, presided over by Omar Padilla, sentenced journalists Lautaro Guillamondegui, Micaela Urdinez, Joaquín Rajadel, and Javier Corbalán, members of the Hambre de Futuro team at LN+, to five days in jail, commutable to a fine, for interviews and filming conducted in the San José Community.
The ruling questioned their lack of a credential authorizing them to practice journalism. ADEPA rejected the decision and recalled that Argentina does not require a license, professional registration, or government authorization to practice journalism. The IAPA noted that such a requirement contradicts constitutional principles and Advisory Opinion OC-5/85 of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
It was later disclosed that Judge Omar Padilla had previously served as a city councilor and leader of the Justicialist Party in Las Lomitas and had publicly expressed support for Formosa Governor Gildo Insfrán before being appointed a Justice of the Peace in March 2025.
Threats against journalists were also reported during the period. Ignacio Ortelli of Radio Rivadavia and A24 reported receiving a threat through Instagram. Tomás Méndez of Crónica TV reported threats and suspicious surveillance targeting him and his family.
Regarding sustainability, ADEPA warned about the use of copyrighted journalistic content to train artificial intelligence models and power search systems without authorization or adequate compensation. The organization linked intellectual property protection to the ability to sustain professional newsrooms and called for balanced competitive conditions between media outlets and technology platforms.
Attacks against journalists and media outlets continued through the end of the period. On September 30, Milei launched a series of attacks against journalist Maru Duffard, whom he called, among other things, a “disgusting leftist,” “corrupt garbage,” and “disgusting garbage,” in response to her comments about a potential candidacy by Cristina Kirchner. On October 1, Milei criticized an editorial in La Nación about lifetime benefits for former presidents and called its director, Fernán Saguier, the “leader of the gang of hitmen with pens.” The president claimed that the newspaper had failed to mention that he had waived the benefit. The editorial, titled “Privileges the Republic Does Not Need,” did not specifically refer to Milei but addressed the broader issue of whether such benefits should continue and whether they are compatible with the republican principle of equality before the law.
