Ecuador

In August, La Naranja director Marco Cadena resigned due to death threats, digital harassment, and surveillance of his family in Imbabura. He had reported links between public officials and criminal groups.

During protest coverage, several journalists were assaulted by security forces and demonstrators. At the August 12 march in Quito, journalists from Expreso, Wambra Radio, and GK were pushed, hit, or prevented from covering President Noboa.

On July 25, TC correspondent Marcelo Ruiz survived an armed attack in Portoviejo, Santa Ana, which left him seriously injured.

Judicial persecution of journalism continued as a concerning pattern. In Loja, journalist Boris Sarango was criminally sued by former candidate Ángel Loayza, though he was acquitted after it was proven that the published information came from public records. In Guayaquil, Expreso reporters Jonathan Palma and Flor Layedra faced a complaint of "hate acts" from a health entrepreneur after publishing investigations into million-dollar contracts between IESS and private providers. Cartoonist Bonil and journalist Sara Ortiz were labeled "terrorists" by high-ranking officials on official accounts.

Between June and August, digital attacks on local media intensified, particularly in provinces such as Morona Santiago and Santa Elena. Platforms like Facebook removed content from community and digital outlets such as La Mañana MS, Exprésate Morona Santiago, Radio Sentimientos, and KLN Noticias, citing copyright violations. These complaints originated from fake profiles, such as "Ámbar Armijos" or "El Mago Evon," suggesting a pattern of digital censorship.

In Santa Elena, KLN Noticias reported the removal of over 25 videos related to protests over the sale of municipal land in La Libertad. Director Cristian Plúas also noted that fake profiles were flagging their content, leading to immediate removals on Facebook and WhatsApp blocks. Attacks also targeted activists and local media such as La Primera and Mónica Silva. Plúas warned of a possible organized strategy from provincial institutions.

In September, information surfaced about an alleged tax investigation by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) targeting newspaper distributors, sparking a campaign against Expreso that was amplified by pro-government media. No evidence links Granasa, the publishing company behind Expreso and Extra, to the case. SRI began audits of 15 taxpayers for sales inconsistencies, but did not explain the leak. José Julio Neira shared a video on X linking Expreso and Granasa to alleged tax evasion and money laundering, without concrete evidence. The outlet responded that Neira had drawn conclusions before any formal SRI investigation, scheduled for September 24, and rejected the "intimidation" aimed at delegitimizing its critical and independent work.

On August 13, President Noboa submitted an urgent bill to the Assembly imposing restrictions on civil society organizations, including dissolution, financial sanctions, and broad financial oversight. Fundamedios and other entities warned that the law threatens freedom of association and expression.

In October, in the context of the national strike, there were reports of assaults and restrictions against the press and social organizations. Complaints were filed over the freezing of bank accounts belonging to the Pachamama and Alianza Ceibo foundations; repression in Indigenous communities in the north; and physical and digital attacks on journalists during the protests. Numerous reporters were beaten, threatened, or excluded from official spaces, while internet blockages and attempts at censorship on social media were also reported. Cases of internal harassment within the Indigenous movement were likewise documented.

Timeline of Other Notable Events

On April 28, JAR TV journalist Juan Alcívar was physically and verbally assaulted by police while covering an accident in La Unión, Quinindé, Esmeraldas. During a live broadcast, officers insulted, pushed, and tried to seize his equipment.

On May 6, journalists Álvaro Espinosa and Blanca Moncada from La Defensa reported attacks from the portal Politics.ec, which accused them of receiving funding from correísmo to discredit public officials.

On May 19, digital creator Ramiro Collahuazo was forced to end his livestream at a public event with Cuenca's mayor in Sinincay. Two days earlier, journalist Segundo Cabrera was blocked from covering a protest in San Francisco Square by municipal security guards.

On May 21, journalists Hugo Sánchez (Sánchez Comunicaciones), Graciela Morejón (La Hora), and Freddy Chicaiza (El Ambateñito) were prevented from covering a hit-and-run at the South Bus Terminal in Ambato.

On May 22, journalist María Sol Borja was attacked on social media after expressing concern about power concentration in the National Assembly during a Teleamazonas interview. The attacks, based on her father's political involvement, included violent and misogynistic insults.

That same day, Bibian Hernández, allegedly involved in money laundering, filed moral damage lawsuits against columnists Martín Pallares and Roberto Aguilar, and a slander suit against journalist Sara Ortiz. The lawsuits seek millions in compensation and public apologies, claiming reputational harm from coverage of judicial cases.

On June 2, government spokesperson Carolina Jaramillo responded to journalist Martín Pallares after an episode of "Politizados" on Expreso, where he and Roberto Aguilar criticized her appointment and linked it to the censorship of journalists during Rafael Correa's administration.

That same day, Cristian Navarro from Cotacachi TV Oficial was harassed by police while covering a suspected femicide in Cotacachi, Imbabura.

On June 7, Fabricio Cevallos was attacked on social media after posting videos criticizing Tungurahua officials linked to Noboa's government. A portal circulated an AI-manipulated audio accusing him of extortion.

On June 13, journalist Juan Barreno from Transparencia Riobamba reported being threatened and physically and verbally assaulted by councilman Wandy Villamarín at a sports event.

On June 20, David Granja Ramos, director of Radio Ideal, faced two legal proceedings after publishing on February 21 about a property dispute involving the Agricultural Center of Tena.

That same day, Arahí Vega from La Hora received violent and sexist attacks on X, including comments from Rafael Correa and users calling her "cynical" and "paid off," under the hashtag #MafiaMediática, for her criticism of Orlando Pérez, a Pichincha Prefecture official.

On July 11, coordinated cyberattacks were reported against La Mañana MS, Exprésate Morona Santiago, and Radio Sentimientos, which had published critical content about local authorities regarding unfinished projects, debts, and scrutiny of the prefect.

On July 22, cartoonist Vilma Vargas ("Vilmatraca") denounced the unexplained cancellation of her exhibition, "El jardín de las malicias," scheduled for July 4 at the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana in Azuay. The show, inspired by Bosch and created in collaboration with local artisans and animators, satirized the exercise of political power.

On July 23, journalist Boris Sarango, director of Primer Reporte, was acquitted in a criminal case brought by former candidate Ángel Loayza over a report on candidates with criminal records.

On July 25, Marcelo Ruiz, correspondent for TC Televisión and director of Últimas Noticias, was shot by unknown assailants on the Portoviejo–Santa Ana road in Manabí, sustaining injuries to his neck, chest, and arm.

On July 26, Jefferson Ana, administrator of Megavisión TV, was physically assaulted and threatened by Raúl Caicedo, driver of the mayor of Quinindé, while refueling his motorcycle in Nuevo Quinindé.

On August 12, protesters and officials in Quito, summoned by President Noboa, surrounded the Constitutional Court. During coverage, several journalists were physically assaulted: Daniel Romero (Expreso), Angelly Tinoco and Sinchi Gómez (Wambra Radio), Diego Lucero (GK), and Paola López (AFP).

On August 15, the National Secretariat of Communication (SECOM) reacted to an Expreso report linking official Cristina Maggi to the group "Ecuador Merece Paz," which had issued critical messages about the Constitutional Court. The investigation revealed metadata in the group's bulletins containing her name. SECOM called the report "baseless," warned of possible legal action, and claimed it distorted the truth and violated rights.

On August 20, journalists Jonathan Palma and Flor Layedra were notified of a criminal complaint filed by Roberto Gilbert Febres Cordero, representative of Clínica Guayaquil, for alleged "acts of hate." The legal action followed their investigation, Los dueños de la salud in Expreso, which tracked over $8 billion in IESS funds to private providers.

That same day, the company operating Radio Onda Teca 89.5 FM and Interlive Ecuador, which provides internet to over 14,000 people, received an extortion threat. The owner's son was threatened via WhatsApp with demands for money and threats to destroy the office. The owner had previously been kidnapped and threatened a year and a half earlier.

On August 29, Paula Kuhn and cameraman Eddy Robalino from Teleamazonas were assaulted while covering the seizure of 1,320 expired medications outside Monte Sinaí Hospital in Guayaquil.

On September 4, the indictment hearing for the murder of Fernando Villavicencio was held. Prosecutors charged Ronny Aleaga, Xavier Jordán, Daniel Salcedo, and José Serrano as alleged intellectual authors. Preventive detention was ordered for Aleaga and Salcedo; Jordán and Serrano must report weekly to the Ecuadorian consulate in Miami. Days earlier, Amanda and Tamia Villavicencio filed a complaint against Jordán for intimidation via videos, accusing them of extortion.

On September 11, Elena Rodríguez, Telesur correspondent in Ecuador, along with cameraman Henry Pillajo and assistant Edwin Zambrano, was assaulted by police while covering a march in Quito.

On September 23, ARCOTEL suspended broadcasts of the community channel TV MICC (47 UHF), operated by the Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Cotopaxi, for 15 days based on a secret report alleging threats to national security.

On September 26, during a protest in Cuenca, journalists Nicole Torres (Camaleón) and Santiago Buestán reported police harassment. Torres stated that, despite identifying herself, an officer forbade her from recording, and a colonel singled her out for attention. Buestán was violently arrested while taking photographs, accused of being a "vandal," and stripped of his material.

On September 29, the company Galamedios S.A.S., linked to ADN alternate assemblyman Luis Alvarado Campi, acquired La Posta and 80% of Radio Centro for 2.6 million dollars, reigniting the debate over media concentration and editorial independence.

During the national strike, complaints were filed over the freezing of the bank accounts of the Pachamama and Alianza Ceibo foundations, repression in Indigenous communities in the north, and the use of signal jammers to block communications in Otavalo, Cotacachi, and Peguche, affecting community media outlets.

Journalists from BN Periodismo, Telesur, Only Panas, Ecuador Chequea, Expreso, and El Wambra Radio were assaulted by police forces while covering protests in Quito and Sucumbíos, while the news site El Dato was harassed by protesters. In Imbabura, journalist Camilo Ponce reported threats and digital attacks after publishing an analysis of the demonstrations.

On October 9, the Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Tungurahua sanctioned three community members for expressing critical opinions about the strike, warning that Indigenous justice would be applied if they persisted. That same day, journalist Milly Pico, from Teleamazonas, reported that her story had been censored on social media by fake accounts seeking to remove critical content of local authorities.

On October 13, journalist Enrique Alcívar Guerrero was barred from entering the Presidential Palace to cover a press conference, following previous incidents in which the military had already restricted him from filming in customary press areas. On October 14, Edison Muenala, a community journalist and producer at Apak TV, was injured while covering the arrival of a military convoy in Imbabura amid clashes between protesters and security forces.

On October 18, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) denounced the suspension of the signals of several community media outlets: TV MICC (Channel 47 of the Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Cotopaxi Province, taken off the air on September 24), Radio Ilumán (in Imbabura Province, suspended on October 17), Radio Inti Pachá (in Pichincha Province, suspended on October 18), and Territorio Karanki (in Imbabura Province, which reported the suspension of its broadcast signal and internet service for four days).