Rosalba Ramos: “The relaxation” on social networks is over

Rosalba Ramos, warns that defamation and blackmail campaigns through social networks are seriously affecting the dignity of people and the mental health of their families.

SANTO DOMINGO.- The Prosecutor of the National District, Rosalba Ramosqualified comor “worrying and unprecedented”, the proliferation of campaigns of defamation, blackmail and personal attacks through social networks and digital platforms by people who go through communicators.

Ramos explained that the investigation headed by his office does not arise only from media noise or the pressure of specific cases, but of a Deep restlessness about the deterioration of public life and deprived caused by a toxic digital dynamics, that has crossed legal and ethical limits.

“I am very worried about this situationespecially because there is a part that perhaps most people do not see, which is how emotionally this issue is destroying lives and families, ”he said in an interview in Le program today.

“It’s gone Beyond legitimate public questioning And personal, emotional and mental damage has been reached, even minors who do not have to carryr with what is said of their parents in the media. ”

From their role as one of the “Justice system legs”, The prosecutor observes with alarm How this phenomenon has climbed.

Read also judge imposes a bail of RD $ 200 thousand to the bull for defamation to the detriment of Faride Raful

“In all my career years, I had never seen something like this,” he said.

He pointed out that the former was the exception, today it seems to become a rule, people using rSocial edes To launch accusations without evidence, expose intimate aspects of the lives of others and, in many cases, request money in exchange for “clean” reputations

Ramos takes as an example, recent cases against Ángel Martínezjudicially processed by defamation, or the aggressive campaign in networks against the Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful, where even the minor son of the official has been an indirect victim of media harassment.

“We can talk about Faride. He has a child who has access to social networkss. How can this impact your health? You have to stop this. To the children and the parents Of those people you also have to take care of them, ”he said, visibly moved.

Aware of the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the right to honor and dignity, the prosecutor explained that the Public Ministry does not seek to restore the free exercise of journalism or critical opinion. However, it made it clear that freedom of expression, like every right, has limits.

“We are always going to safeguard freedom of expression, but we must also remember that all rights have a limit. Even in judgments it can be requested that they be held by closed doors to protect the dignity of the victim or the accused,” he recalled.

This principle has guided the new strategy of the Public Ministry, which has begun to deal with defamation cases with greater legal forcefulness.

“Before many of these processes became private complaints, at the request of the parties. Now we have begun to present formal accusations and to obtain convictions, as it should be,” said Ramos, with a resolved tone.

Collateral damage

One of the most sensitive elements of this phenomenon is Emotional damage and professionl that suffer so much victims like their families.

Ramos reported, from his personal experience, the cost that this type of digital violence can have.

“I was a victim of this when I started as District Prosecutor. Many false things about me said, and it cost me a lot to drive it, despite having more than 20 years in the public sector. It is very painful to see that people turn to that without evidence, just to generate scandal or exert pressure. ”

The magistrate referred to the case of Police commander in San Cristóbal, Who died with a process of denunciation for defamation, without reaching a resolution in time.

“It was painful because An honest person was unfairly marked And he could not see the justice he had requested, ”he lamented.

The prosecutor stressed that this concern is not individual, but shared throughout the body of the Public Ministry.

“Every Monday we discuss topics like this. It is a general concern, because Many prosecutors have been victims too. And we agree that it is time to act systematically and coordinated nationwide. ”

Cases such as Ángel Martínez, Aquiles Jiménez And others that are accumulating in different jurisdictions of the country reflect, according to Ramos, the need for a new approach.

“It’s not about restricting. It’s about putting order. To protect honest people who want to serve the country without having to go through media or blackmail lynching. ”

And now what?

When asked how to prevent this action from the Public Ministry from being interpreted as a form of censorship, Ramos explained that: “The difference is clear. One thing is to comment, another is blackmail. One thing is to investigate, another is to invent. We will continue to respect rights, But we are also going to apply the law when those rights are used to harm. ”

“The relaxation is over. We are already acting and we will continue to do it. The one who defames, the one who blackmails has to respond to justice. ”