The scandal caused in Chile by the Matus case led the government to support proposals in Congress to repeal provisions of the State Security Law that restrict freedom of expression. These amendments are part of a comprehensive press bill, which has been held up in the legislature for eight years. Even though the State Security Law purports to cover crimes against national security, those in office may rely on it even to silence opponents in private legal quarrels. Human Rights Watch's report describes five state security prosecutions opened by the wealthy senator and former presidential candidate Francisco Javier Err zuriz, three of them filed in February 2001. Prior censorship is another problem for which Chile stands out in Latin America.
Chile still has a board of film censors that includes officers of the armed forces and the police.
Human Rights Watch has found, however, that most recent instances of prior censorship are the result of court decisions, not acts of the film censorship board. The Last Temptation of Christ, which Chilean judges found to have damaged Christ's honor and reputation, as well as that of his followers. In February 2001, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously that Chile's prohibition on the film violated the American Convention on Human Rights. The decision was expected to give extra impetus to a bill bogged down in Congress since 1997 to eliminate film censorship, which is presently mandated in Chile's constitution. Vivanco urged the Chilean legislature, as it reconvenes for the 2001 session, to give first priority to passing a reform package.