In recent years, Ecuador has limited the exercise of freedom of expression on the internet, restricting access to the network to prevent the population from being informed about the political situation in the country, especially in the context of social mobilisations in 2019. In addition, an increase in online violence against vulnerable groups based on xenophobia, homophobia and misogyny on social media platforms has been identified. The situation in the country has also been characterised by the criminalisation of digital security and the activists who promote it, as in the case of Ola Bini.
These situations have been documented by the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2018 and 2019. In these reports, the Special Rapporteur has recommended that the Ecuadorian state respect and guarantee the full enjoyment of the rights to protest, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and political participation in accordance with Inter-American standards.
Within the framework of the 41st cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations (UPR), the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Derechos Digitales want to draw attention to some relevant aspects for the exercise of human rights in the digital environment in Ecuador. For this, we have prepared a detailed report (in Spanish) with recommendations that could be implemented by the Ecuadorian state in favour of the entire population. We present here a summary in English of the most relevant elements.