Costa Rica’s Legislators approved an amendment to the computer crimes law yesterday by a big majority (42 to 2) without any changes to the version that was adopted on first reading after modification. The bill is now waiting to be signed into law by the Presidenta.
Reporters Without Borders, the France-based international non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes and defends freedom of information and freedom of the press, said it regrets that legislators did not make further changes on second and final reading and, in particular, that they did not change a new provision under which revealing state secrets related to national security, defence of sovereignty and foreign relations will be punishable by one to six years in prison.
The provision nonetheless allows for appeals.
Costa Rica’s ranking in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, 18th out of 179 countries, is the best in Latin America.