Beatriz Salomón: the court sentenced América TV, Rial, and Ventura for damages to privacy

The Supreme Court of Justice ruled in favor of Beatriz Salomón's daughters and sentenced América TV, Jorge Rial, and Luis Ventura for invading her private life in 2004. The decision sets a legal precedent to protect privacy, even in cases involving public figures.

The complaint arose after the broadcast of a report on the program Punto Doc, which showed the actress's then-husband, surgeon Alberto Ferriols, in a sexual situation with a transvestite during a medical consultation, captured by a hidden camera.

Minutes later, Salomón was taken without warning to the program Intrusos en la Noche, where the images were shown again in front of cameras. Her reaction and that of her partner were filmed and then rebroadcast the following day as part of the show's content.

Judges Rosatti, Rosenkrantz, and Lorenzetti considered that there was no valid consent from Salomón for the dissemination of those contents. They stated that both Punto Doc and Intrusos acted together to display her privacy for sensational purposes.

"The scenes were unrelated to the activity for which the actress gained notoriety and lacked general interest," the ruling stated.

Abusive conduct by the programs and lack of consent

The Court pointed directly to the responsibility of América TV, Rial, and Ventura, noting that it is not enough for a public figure to attend a program to justify the exposure of their private life.

The ruling harshly criticized the way the shows Punto Doc and Intrusos manipulated the content, creating a "cruel and dehumanizing" spectacle, according to the plaintiff. The actress had never authorized the dissemination of those images nor was she warned about the content that was going to be broadcast.

In addition, the judges considered that Salomón's presence in the studio could not be interpreted as tacit consent, given the emotional vulnerability to which she was subjected. In fact, they warned that leaving the place could have harmed her even more in the eyes of the public.

"It can't be maintained that notoriety enables the destruction of a person's private sphere," the magistrates stated.

They also highlighted the harm caused to her daughters, who were exposed to a humiliating situation without any protection, in what they considered a "serious intrusion into family life."

A precedent that limits sensationalism in the media

The ruling sets concrete limits on the use of hidden cameras and the media exploitation of others' pain. In the words of the Court, neither ratings nor public interest justify violating essential rights such as privacy and honor.

Salomón, who passed away in 2019, had initiated the lawsuit during her lifetime and continued the process until her last days. Her daughters took up the cause, and now they have obtained justice in a case that exposed the excesses of certain television formats.

This ruling not only represents a legal victory for her family, but also a clear message to the media: spectacle can't be built at the expense of real human suffering.