How Net Centers Prop Up Guatemala's Corrupt Elite

In Latin America, like in much of the world, the Internet has become a key tool for spreading pro-government propaganda – there are “Peñabots” in Mexico, “Fujitrolls” in Peru and “JOHBots” in Honduras, just to name a few regional variants of the same phenomenon. Guatemala also has its pro-government trolls, but unlike other countries, it “may be unique in the degree to which private interests have been implicated in the trolling, as well as the pervasiveness of the phenomenon,” writes the Intercept.

This excellent analysis provides an in-depth local perspective on a global problem. It documents the online information warfare carried out in support of Guatemala's embattled President Jimmy Morale and the country’s corrupt elite. With the main aim to divide and distract the public opinion, we learn that the army of trolls does not stop at spreading misinformation, but also routinely and relentlessly harasses those fighting against impunity.

“Net center is a term used loosely in Guatemala, to describe anything from a troll at their laptop to a full professional public relations campaign. But principally, it refers to people paid to produce and disseminate fake news stories, and to fabricate Facebook and Twitter profiles in order to attack foes and spread misinformation. Tactics can include viral WhatsApp campaigns, doxxing, and hacking; targets are typically activists or journalists,” reads the Intercept.

Reporters Cora Currier and Danielle Mackey cover much more than just the details of troll's operations. By diving deeply into Guatemala's political and historical situation, where, as we learn from the article, the problem of fake news is rooted, the two journalists paint a broader picture of how the country’s status quo tries to protect its position. History repeats itself, only this time it's online.