1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice. 2. The exercise of the right provided for in the foregoing paragraph shall not be subject to prior censorship but shall be subject to subsequent imposition of liability, which shall be expressly established by law to the extent necessary to ensure: a. respect for the rights or reputations of others; or b. the protection of national security, public order, or public health or morals. 3. The right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods or means, such as the abuse of government or private controls over newsprint, radio broadcasting frequencies, or equipment used in the dissemination of information, or by any other means tending to impede the communication and circulation of ideas and opinions. […] 56. The right to freedom of thought and expression, according to the protection granted under Article 13 of the American Convention, includes the right of individuals to express their own thoughts, as well as the right to seek, receive, and disseminate information and ideas of all kinds.55 This right is critically important for the personal development of every individual, for the exercise of his or her autonomy and other fundamental rights and, finally, for the consolidation of a democratic society.56 57. In this regard, the Inter-American Commission and the Inter-American Court have maintained that freedom of expression has two dimensions: an individual dimension and a social dimension. The individual dimension of freedom of expression consists of the right of every person to express his or her own thoughts, ideas, and information, and is not limited to the theoretical recognition of the right to speak or right; rather, it includes, inseparably, the right to use any appropriate means to disseminate thought and enable it to reach the greatest number of recipients.57 The second dimension of the right to freedom of expression, the collective or social dimension, consists of society’s right to seek and receive any information, to learn about the thoughts, ideas, and information of others, and to be well-informed.58 In this regard, the Court has held that freedom of expression is a means for the exchange of ideas and information among individuals; it 55 IACHR, Report No. 82/10, Case 12.524, Merits, Jorge Fontevecchia and Hector d’Amico, Argentina, July 13, 2010, para. 86. Available in Spanish at: http://www.cidh.oas.org/demandas/12.524Esp.pdf. 56 IACHR, Report No. 82/10, Case 12.524, Merits, Jorge Fontevecchia and Hector d’Amico, Argentina, July 13, 2010, para. 85. Available in Spanish at: http://www.cidh.oas.org/demandas/12.524Esp.pdf 57 I/A Court H.R., Compulsory Membership in an Association Prescribed by Law for the Practice of Journalism (Arts. 13 and 29 American Convention on Human Rights). Advisory Opinion OC-5/85 of November 13, 1985. Series A No. 5, para. 31, available at: http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/opiniones/seriea_05_ing.pdf. 58 I/A Court H.R., Case of Kimel v. Argentina. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of May 2, 2008 Series C No. 177, para. 53; I/A Court H.R., Case of Claude Reyes et al. v. Chile. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of September 19, 2006. Series C No. 151, para. 75; I/A Court H.R., Case of López Álvarez v. Honduras. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of February 1, 2006. Series C No. 141, para. 163; IACHR. Arguments before the Inter-American Court in the Case of Herrera Ulloa v. Costa Rica. Reprinted in: I/A Court H.R., Case of Herrera Ulloa v. Costa Rica. Judgment of July 2, 2004. Series C No. 107, para. 101.1 a); I/A Court H.R., Case of Herrera Ulloa. Judgment of July 2, 2004. Series C No. 107, para. 108; I/A Court H.R., Case of Ivcher Bronstein v. Peru. Judgment of February 6, 2001. Series C No. 74; I/A Court H.R., Case of Ricardo Canese v. Paraguay. Judgment of August 31, 2004. Series C No. 111, para. 77; I/A Court H.R., Case of “The Last Temptation of Christ” (Olmedo-Bustos et al.) v. Chile. Judgment of February 5, 2001. Series C No. 73, para. 64; I/A Court H.R., Compulsory Membership in an Association Prescribed by Law for the Practice of Journalism (Arts. 13 and 29 American Convention on Human Rights). Advisory Opinion OC-5/85 of November 13, 1985. Series A No. 5, para. 30, available at: http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/opiniones/seriea_05_ing.pdf; IACHR. 1994 Annual Report. Chapter V: Report on the Compatibility of “Desacato” Laws with the American Convention on Human Rights. Title III. OEA/Ser. L/V/II.88. doc. 9 rev. February 17, 1995; IACHR. Report No. 130/99. Case No. 11.740. Víctor Manuel Oropeza. Mexico. November 19, 1999, para. 51; IACHR. Report No. 11/96, Case No. 11.230. Francisco Martorell. Chile. May 3, 1996. Para. 53.