Chilean prosecutors investigate Fernando Cerimedo over possible cybercrimes

Chile’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into possible cybercrimes linked to Argentine digital strategist Fernando Cerimedo, whose alleged connections to the political circle of President José Antonio Kast have drawn renewed scrutiny.

The Santiago Centro prosecutor’s office launched the case after a complaint from Socialist lawmaker Juan Santana. The complaint cites possible threats and criminal association, as well as a potential violation involving the publication of personal data. Santana said the case included two provisions of the Penal Code and concerned a situation that affected a Chilean national.

Santana also alleged that the same social media accounts were used during José Antonio Kast’s presidential campaign, including to question the health of then-presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei. The investigation comes days after Chile’s Congress approved a commission to examine possible links between Cerimedo and the president’s circle. The commission has 60 days to prepare a report.

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The novelty of this complaint is that we are incorporating two offenses from the Penal Code, particularly threats over the situation that affected a Chilean compatriot and illegitimate association. We have also pointed to a possible violation of the law through the publication of his personal data.

Cerimedo is being held in Bolivia over an alleged attempted femicide against his former partner. He is known in the region as a communications strategist who has worked for Latin American right-wing politicians, including Argentine President Javier Milei and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Reports surrounding his detention also brought attention to alleged “bot farms,” described as large networks of fake digital accounts that harass and insult political opponents while posing as real people.

Kast said on Monday that he had never worked with Cerimedo during his campaigns and does not currently have an advisory relationship with him. The president acknowledged that he knows the strategist and that they had crossed paths at events with others. Allegations involving bot use by Kast and his teams are not new. Lawmakers filed a separate complaint in 2025 over alleged coordinated disinformation networks and possible cybercrime and criminal-association offenses linked to harassment and manipulation of public debate.

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The same social media accounts were used during José Antonio Kast’s campaign, among other things, to question the health of then-presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei.