Skip to content
  • Our Conference
  • Our Journalism
  • Careers
  • Contact us
  • Subscribe
  • Search
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Thomson Reuters Foundation Site Search Thomson Reuters Foundation Mobile Menu Thomson Reuters Foundation Close Menu
  • Home
  • About Us

    About

    We are the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters. We work to strengthen free, fair and informed societies through media, legal and data-driven services.

    • Our People
    • Partner With Us
    • Careers
    • Annual Reports & Accounts
  • Our Work

    Our Work

    We leverage our media, legal and data-driven expertise to support independent journalism, strengthen access to the law and promote responsible business.

    • Resilience of Independent MediaBolstering independent media that inform the public and uphold democracy.
    • Access to Law Enabling a fair legal system that is accessible to all.
    • Responsible BusinessSupporting businesses to thrive whilst doing no harm.
  • Our Approach
  • Our Services

    Our Services

    Through free legal assistance, data platforms, news, media development and events, our unique services foster free, fair and informed societies.

    • Media Development ServicesProviding capacity-building support to journalists and newsrooms.
    • TrustLawThe world’s largest pro bono legal network.
    • Legal Service for Independent MediaProviding free legal services to support independent media.
    • Workforce Disclosure InitiativeProviding data on how companies manage workers in their operations and supply chains.
    • Context Our media platform, providing news and analysis to purpose driven professionals.
    • TrainingDiscover our range of training programmes and opportunities.
    • Trust ConferenceOur flagship forum dedicated to tackling critical and intersecting global issues from democracy to sustainable development.
  • Training & Resources

    Training & Resources

    Discover our range of training programmes and repository of resources.

    • Live training opportunitiesExplore our training programmes for professionals and civil society.
    • Bespoke training optionsDiscover the bespoke journalism, communications and media training programmes we can offer.
    • Resources & PublicationsOur library of reports and practical guides.
    • Featured
    • Journalism in the AI Era: A TRF Insights survey

      Download the report

  • News & Events

    News & Events

    Discover highlights from across the Foundation’s focus areas, key announcements and our events.

    • Foundation News
    • Events
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Featured
    • 21-22 October

      Trust Conference

      2025

  • Search
  • Home
  • About Us
    Back

    About

    We are the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters. We work to strengthen free, fair and informed societies through media, legal and data-driven services.

    About UsOur PeoplePartner With UsCareersAnnual Reports & Accounts
  • Our Work
    Back

    Our Work

    We leverage our media, legal and data-driven expertise to support independent journalism, strengthen access to the law and promote responsible business.

    Our WorkResilience of Independent MediaBolstering independent media that inform the public and uphold democracy.Access to Law Enabling a fair legal system that is accessible to all.Responsible BusinessSupporting businesses to thrive whilst doing no harm.
  • Our Approach
  • Our Services
    Back

    Our Services

    Through free legal assistance, data platforms, news, media development and events, our unique services foster free, fair and informed societies.

    Our ServicesMedia Development ServicesProviding capacity-building support to journalists and newsrooms.TrustLawThe world’s largest pro bono legal network.Legal Service for Independent MediaProviding free legal services to support independent media.Workforce Disclosure InitiativeProviding data on how companies manage workers in their operations and supply chains.Context Our media platform, providing news and analysis to purpose driven professionals.TrainingDiscover our range of training programmes and opportunities.Trust ConferenceOur flagship forum dedicated to tackling critical and intersecting global issues from democracy to sustainable development.
  • Training & Resources
    Back

    Training & Resources

    Discover our range of training programmes and repository of resources.

    Training & ResourcesLive training opportunitiesExplore our training programmes for professionals and civil society.Bespoke training optionsDiscover the bespoke journalism, communications and media training programmes we can offer.Resources & PublicationsOur library of reports and practical guides.Featured

    Journalism in the AI Era: A TRF Insights survey

    Download the report

  • News & Events
    Back

    News & Events

    Discover highlights from across the Foundation’s focus areas, key announcements and our events.

    News & EventsFoundation NewsEventsNewsletter sign upFeatured21-22 October

    Trust Conference

    2025

  • Search
  • Our Conference
  • Our Journalism
  • Careers
  • Contact us
  • Subscribe
  • Search
Impact Story Thursday, April 13 2023 00:00 GMT

Safeguarding personal privacy by reforming outdated data protection laws in Argentina

CE
by Camila Estella

This impact story is part of a  series to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono projects undertaken by legal teams to support NGOs and social enterprises with the support of TrustLaw. All projects mentioned in this series are nominated for this year’s TrustLaw Awards. Find out more.”¯ 

 

Over the last two decades businesses’ use of data has transformed the global economy, an economy that has become dependent on targeted advertising and where cross-border e-commerce is valued at an estimated $2.7 trillion worldwide. The enormous value of data as a commodity means that regulation is needed to protect personal data and ensure privacy.  

Argentina pioneered Latin American data regulation by having the first robust data protection law, but this regulation, enacted in 2000, is now outdated and needs reform. Democracia en Red, an Argentine non-profit organisation that uses technology to bring democracy to the 21st century, believes that current legislation has not kept up with the digital transformation. The 2000 law is no longer a protective mechanism in the face of surging e-commerce and the expanding use of biometric data, and also lacks gender perspective, meaning there is no specific data protection for women reporting domestic violence, sexual abuse and other gender-based crimes. 

To address these shortcomings, Democracia en Red is working to submit a new data protection bill to Argentine Congress for their consideration. As part of this effort, the NGO approached TrustLaw, the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s pro bono legal service, with the idea of developing a comparative study to identify successful data protection laws from other countries. Once identified, these laws could be adapted for use in Argentina and used to inform their bill proposal.  

TrustLaw connected Democracia en red with law firms Gómez Pinzón in Colombia, who helped coordinate this project; Cervieri Monsuarez in Uruguay; Bruchou & Funes de Roja in Argentina; ObradorDigital Legal in Chile; KLA Advogados in Brazil; Goebel & Muthspiel in Mexico; Hogan Lovells International LLP in Spain; Dentons LLP in Canada; and DLA Piper in France to produce legal research on legislation on data protection applicable to the local public and private sectors. 

Thanks to TrustLaw’s support and the legal assistance provided by the law firms, Democracia en Red developed and launched the report Data Protection: A Legal Comparative Study of 9 Countries. The report addresses five features of data protection legislation in Argentina, France, Chile, Colombia, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Mexico and Uruguay: main laws and regulations, gender perspective, enforcement authority, government access to personal data and implicit consent. The analysis provides an in-depth look at regulation that can ensure privacy and protection of personal data, and is a useful tool to identify standards to adopt in Argentina and other Latin American countries.  

Given the relevance of the study, which came at a time when debates around data protection law reforms are going on across the region, the report aroused the interest of local media outlets in Argentina and Mexico, who helped cover and disseminate the resource. 

This report has been fundamental to helping Democracia en Red participate in discussions held by the Argentine data protection enforcement authority and position itself as one of the key contributors to the law reform. It will also be shared with members of Congress once the bill is submitted and is publicly available for consultation by citizens. 

Florencia Caffarone, Co-Director at Democracia en Red, shared that: “Thanks to the knowledge acquired through the research, we could contribute with quality information that enriched debate around the new law.” She added: “For us it is extremely valuable to hear different perspectives and work with local and foreign experts on the topic of ensuring data privacy in digital platforms and carrying out a comparative analysis on data protection laws.” 

Lina María Moya Ortiz, Pro Bono Coordinator at Gomez Pinzón, said: “The impact of this work lies in understanding and comparing multijurisdictional perspectives on the same topic, which allowed us to develop an informative tool for advocacy, not just for Argentina, but also for other organisations that want to take action.”

Share

Sign up to our newsletter
Subscribe

Share

Sign up to our newsletter
Subscribe

Related links

Link Title

More Impact Stories

View All Impact Stories

Kick-starting a new African AI, ethics and digital inclusion organisation

A group of civil…

Read More

Delivering pro bono legal services in Latin America

New technologies are enhancing pro bono work in Latin…

Read More

Delivering pro bono legal services in the United States

In 2020, White & Case created its Access to Justice…

Read More

Delivering pro bono legal services in Ghana

The legal community in Ghana is frequently engaged in dialogue about…

Read More

Delivering pro bono legal services in the Gulf Cooperation Council region

Working on pro bono…

Read More

Journalists’ confidence in reporting on blockchain increases following training course

…

Read More

From advocacy to change: Colombia outlaws child marriage

TrustLaw, our pro bono legal service, facilitated…

Read More

The value of pro bono for media: Women’s Voices Now

Women’s Voices Now (WVN) is a US-based non-profit…

Read More

The value of pro bono for media: InSight Crime

InSight Crime is an award-winning non-profit newsroom that seeks to…

Read More

Conservation, Health, and Community: The Legal Lifeline Boosting Uganda’s Wetlands and Wellbeing

This impact story is part of a series to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono projects…

Read More
View All Impact Stories

Discover more

About us

Learn about our mission and what makes us different.

 

Our work

Find out how we’re working to support independent journalism, strengthen access to the law and promote responsible business.

 

Partner with us

Discover our latest partnership opportunities and how to get involved in our work.

 
Sign up to our newsletter
Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Press Releases
  • Partner With Us
  • Cookie Settings
  • Search
  • Trust Principles
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Safeguarding Policy
  • Search

Copyright © 2025 Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Thomson Reuters Foundation is a charity registered in England and Wales (registration number: 1082139)

TRF's LinkedIn page Context News YouTube channel TRF's Facebook page TRF's X (formally Twitter) account