Journalists and Citizens Denounce Abuses of Authority Through Social Networking Tania Lara - Journalism in the Americas
go to original September 12, 2013

Cellular phone cameras have become a powerful tool for journalists and citizens in reporting requests for bribes and other excessive uses of power. In Mexico, cellular phones and social networks have also become a popular form to broadcast abuses of power, attempts at electoral fraud, and demonstrations of citizens against the police. In Brazil images of police abuse against reporters and protestors have been shared throughout numerous cities in the country.

Whether in Mexico, Brazil or the United States, the police and other security forces have responded to these cellular phone cameras by arresting those journalists and citizens who are recording them. In Mexico, one of the most recent cases was that of Roberto Hernández, director of the documentary Presunto Culpable ("Presumed Guilty" in Spanish), who was arrested in Mexico City after recording the police conducting an arbitrary arrest.

Reporters are frequently being attacked due to recording security forces or the inappropriate conduct of a public official. According to the organization Article 19, attacks by security forces on journalists reveal the lack of training with respect to how to deal with the press. For that reason, the organization published the document General Principles for the Relation between the Armed Forces and Public Security with the Press.

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