Social networks, the virus that has "affected" the government of JC Varela

Every tweet, every opinion or every image through social networks denouncing the mismanagement of state resources is seen as a direct attack by the officials.

This is the conclusion in matching social networking experts, political analysts and libertarians, after knowing the intentions of the government to regulate the use of digital platforms in Panama.

The alert came after statements by President of the National Assembly Ruben De Leon. The deputy told the national press that a rumor born in networks "could become a false news."

Therefore, he did not rule out the presentation of a document to legislate on the use of this type of media in our country. But the next day he recanted.

However, citizens interpreted the first words of the deputy as an alarm to a new stage of fighting to defend their freedom of expression.

Guillermo Cochez, former Ambassador of Panama to the Organization of American States (OAS), it is absurd to imagine control social networks. He said the initiative would be seen in bad shape inside and outside borders.

"This is typical of dictatorial governments such as Venezuela, Ecuador or Nicaragua ... is the same line of thought leaders who can not tolerate freedom of expression."

Another who enlisted his opinion was the internationalist Jules Yao. This source noted that deep, governments seek to stop the battery of criticism against him.

"What you want to limit is an aspect of social networking that is hurting someone powerful: the Government or to a business group," said Yao.

In this same aspect, the former presidential candidate John Jované said the impact of what is broadcast on Facebook or Twitter is as effective as when a scandal is published on television.

But these media legislation and regulation has, explained Carlos Lee, Citizens Alliance for Justice.

Lee said it is merely a tactic of long standing of the government apparatus to distract the population from other big problems.

"There are more critical and far more urgent things to discuss right now ... also the subject of networks, the judiciary can intervene or investigate accounts or networks that are allegedly linked to a crime," said Lee.

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Datos

• Dominio

• Norma Núñez Montoto, expresidenta del Consejo Nacional de Periodismo (CNP), aseveró que ningún gobierno puede atribuirse el derecho de dominar estos medios, aunque se sientan afectados.

• Atentado

• Desde el punto de vista de Filemón Medina, secretario general del Sindicato de Periodistas de Panamá, no se trata de un atentado al derecho a informar o ser informado. "Hay quienes emplean estas herramientas para cometer todo tipo de delito. No vivimos en un Estado de anarquía; el tema se vincula más en tipificar qué es delito y qué no es delito en las redes", aclaró Medina.

• Amenaza

• El catedrático y abogado Miguel Antonio Bernal plantea: "Todo lo que contenga una amenaza puede considerarse como apología del delito, sobre todo si es en redes sociales".