Former President Evo Morales denounced this Saturday that the Vice Minister of Communication, Gabriela Alcón, and the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of the Presidency, Ángela Cáceres paid for the 1,600 false accounts that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, dismantled; however, Alcón categorically denied that State resources are used in something like this.
The MAS leader, through his Twitter account, pointed out that “the case of the false accounts dismantled by Meta must be investigated. We have information that the payments came from Gabriela Alcón and Ángela Cáceres (Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of the Presidency). Now we understand where the attacks on me came from,” he wrote.
The case of the false accounts dismantled by Meta-Facebook must be investigated. We have information that the payments came from @GabrielaAlconM and Ángela Cáceres (Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of the Presidency). Now we understand where the attacks on me came from.
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) February 25, 2023
Then he added: “Let me clarify as president of the MAS that We repudiate this type of action and request an explanation from the authorities involved. Social networks should be an instrument of expression that promotes political dialogue”.
Evo Morales assured “public opinion that These disjointed accounts are not linked to the MAS-IPSP and that it is the responsibility of the Government clarify these facts, as well as answer the reason for this proceeding.”
Vice Minister Alcón did not take long to respond through the same social network. “From the Vice Ministry of Communication, within the framework of our powers and competencies, We have official accounts on social networks that are functioning fully as normal”.
From the Vice Ministry of Communication @comunicacionboWithin the framework of our attributions and powers, we have official accounts on social networks that are operating fully normally.
— Gabriela Alcon (@GabrielaAlconM) February 26, 2023
Then he clarified that the Government concentrates its work “on the dissemination of government management. We categorically deny the use of State resources for purposes that do not fall within our powers”.
We focus our work on the dissemination of governance management. We categorically deny the use of State resources for purposes that do not fall within our powers.
— Gabriela Alcon (@GabrielaAlconM) February 26, 2023
The parent company of the social network reported this Thursday that it had dismantled networks of false accounts in Cuba and Bolivia, which it linked to the governments of both countries and that were used to spread official messages and discredit opponentsreported the AFP agency.
Ben Nimmo, global leader of Meta Threat Intelligence, in a videoconference with AFP, reported that in the case of Bolivia the investigation led to links with the leftist government, with the ruling party Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) after his return to power in 2020 and a group calling itself “Digital Warriors”, he specified.
