Argentina’s Press Freedom Plummets During Milei’s First Year

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports that Argentina experienced a dramatic decline in press freedom during Javier Milei’s first year as president (Dec 2023–Dec 2024). The 2025 World Press Freedom Index saw Argentina fall an alarming 47 places, from 40th to 87th out of 180 countries, marking one of the steepest drops worldwide.

RSF attributes this decline to several authoritarian shifts: the government stigmatized journalists, dismantled public media outlets, and weaponized state advertising to pressure independent outlets. President Milei personally escalated the hostility, threatening to dismiss or even arrest critical reporters from major news organizations like Clarín and América 24 for perceived dissent, signals of a growing intolerance toward watchdog journalism.

In September 2024, Milei issued a decree limiting access to public information, permitting the government to withhold data classified as “private,” raising serious transparency concerns. Additionally, under his austerity agenda, public outlets such as Télam, Radio Nacional, and TV Pública faced budget cuts and structural overhauls, effectively neutralizing government broadcaster functions and consolidating control.

Beyond institutional media, Milei’s team harnessed digital tools to reinforce the campaign. His “digital militias” amplified anti-media narratives on social platforms, driving intimidation and delegitimization of opposing voices.

Despite Argentina maintaining a relatively robust Freedom on the Net score of 71/100, Freedom House warned of increased online content manipulation—including deepfakes and harassment—particularly surrounding the 2023-24 election cycle.

The repercussions became tangible during large-scale protests earlier in 2024. Journalists covering demonstrations faced violence and obstruction from federal forces, with police reportedly firing rubber bullets and tear gas at members of the press, raising alarms about press protection amid civil unrest