Bolivian Senator alleges U.S. official used QR codes in legislature

Senator Ana María Crispín of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) has raised allegations regarding the use of QR codes by a United States official during a session of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly in Bolivia. Crispín initially suggested that a representative from the United States was using QR codes to facilitate payments to legislators.

Investigations into the claim found no evidence of financial transactions via QR codes in the available recordings. Senator Crispín later clarified that she did not film a QR code itself, but observed a deputy receiving one. She specifically identified Hermes Grullón from the U.S. Embassy as the individual passing a code to Deputy María Esther Góngora of APB-Súmate.

The U.S. Embassy responded to the inquiry by stating that an employee, while following the debate alongside representatives from other embassies, shared a WhatsApp contact QR code.