Argentina's Judicial Bodies Warn Against False Media Narratives and Vigilante Justice on Instagram

The Federación Argentina de la Magistratura y la Función Judicial (FAM) issued a statement expressing concern over recent media excesses that, under the guise of journalistic criticism, spread false narratives intended to discredit judges and judicial officials. The organization warned that such misinformation crosses the line of legitimate press freedom and threatens the constitutional principle of judicial independence.

The Foro de Periodismo Argentino (FOPEA) also raised alarm about Instagram pages based in Mar del Plata that promote "justice by one's own hand". One account, with about 260,000 followers, posted a video of an inmate threatening another detainee and shared personal details of alleged offenders before any legal judgment. FOPEA stressed that freedom of expression does not protect the encouragement of lynchings or the usurpation of judicial and police functions, and that these practices should not be equated with journalism.