Bolivia’s 50‑day political crisis sees journalist harassment and rampant disinformation

The National Press Association (ANP) warned that journalists covering Bolivia’s 50‑day political crisis are being harassed by pro‑government activists and blockade defenders. The association cited a cameraman assaulted on 17 June and a reporter questioned aggressively on 14 June, and urged reporters to uphold ethical standards while condemning attempts to discredit the media.

At the same time, verification groups reported a flood of false and out‑of‑context content on WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, X, Threads and other platforms. They identified about 60 verified pieces during the conflict, including manipulated photos, AI‑generated images, fabricated statements from officials, and rumors about education privatisation, new taxes and special fuel deals. As one verifier said, “La mayoría es información real, pero sacada de contexto,” noting that the misinformation was used to provoke anger, fear and mobilisation among the population.