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Trending: Did a state news agency troll its critics?

Factual

Did a state news agency troll its critics?

08/08/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Trending, Did a state news agency troll its critics?

Mexico’s state news agency Notimex has been accused of sending online abuse to critics.

It aimed to become the “BBC of Mexico”. State news agency Notimex was turning over a new leaf. But now it’s been accused of attacking its critics online.

The people in charge wanted state-run news agency Notimex to become the “BBC of Mexico”. And after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was elected in 2018, he appointed people who took on that mission. But now the agency has been rocked by allegations that it targeted online abuse at former employees and critical independent journalists. 

An investigation by three organisations alleges that people among the most senior Notimex executives orchestrated the use of fake accounts to attack people they didn’t like. We find out how the trolling campaigns worked, speak to people who have been at the receiving end of the messages, and even talk to someone who admits they were told to carry out orders from the top. 

Presenter: Reha Kansara
Producer: Marcos Martinez 

Picture: Photo illustration of an anonymous troll
Picture credit: Getty Images

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