Information Requested from Mitic Amidst Possible 'Hate Campaign' Funded by Public Money

Senator Rafael Filizzola has formally requested that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mitic) provide a comprehensive report clarifying the government's use of public funds, particularly concerning allegations of "hate campaigns" and AI-driven attacks against critics and journalists. This move follows a similar inquiry by Deputy Raúl Benítez, signaling growing legislative concern over potential misuse of state resources.

The core of Filizzola's resolution is to ascertain whether the government, under Santiago Peña, is employing state funds for a "dirty war" strategy targeting media outlets and individuals who question its policies. The senator specifically seeks transparency regarding digital advertising, marketing, and social media management contracts, demanding to know the identities of local and international providers, the amounts paid, and the segmentation criteria used in these campaigns.

Furthermore, the request probes into the outsourcing of these digital operations, seeking details on agreements with entities like the Itaipú Technological Park (PTI) and multilateral organizations such as the UNDP. The Ministry is also required to identify all advertising accounts on platforms like Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google Ads/YouTube, along with user access histories and internal documentation authorizing these campaigns and selecting vendors.

Filizzola's initiative also extends to scrutinizing the assignment of Mitic officials to the Office of the First Lady (OPD), requesting details on their functions, salaries, and the administrative resolutions authorizing these transfers. The senator emphasized that the revelations by ABC Color regarding the alleged use of public funds for disinformation campaigns are grave, necessitating Mitic's accountability for the destination of these funds, which purportedly are used to persecute journalists, media, and opposition voices.

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The facts revealed by the newspaper ABC Color about the alleged use of public funds to finance disinformation campaigns are serious. For this reason, I have submitted an information request to MITIC so that it renders accounts on the destination of public funds that, according to the complaints, would be being used to persecute journalists, media outlets and opposition voices.