Dominican Republic Updates Criminal Code to Strengthen Online Defamation Penalties

The Dominican Republic’s 2025 Criminal Code revision adds Sections VI, Articles 207‑213, creating specific offences for defamation, injuria and extortion carried out through digital platforms. The new provisions aim to protect personal dignity, honor and privacy while balancing freedom of expression, referencing constitutional articles 38 and 44 and aligning with jurisprudence of the Dominican Constitutional Court. The code mirrors reforms previously adopted in Spain, Argentina and Colombia, where courts have delineated limits on press and online speech to safeguard human dignity. Judges are now empowered to prosecute both public figures and private individuals whose reputations are harmed on social‑media networks, addressing a recent surge in criminal convictions for online harassment.