
Online Harassment and Smear Campaign Targets Investigative Globe Journalist
July 21, 2025
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July 21, 2025July 21, 2025 – Peru –
Grecia Infante, an investigative journalist with La República in Peru, is facing serious threats after publishing a report revealing safety concerns about deteriorating trains used on the Lima–Chosica railway line. The trains, acquired under Lima’s mayor, Rafael López Aliaga’s administration, were originally decommissioned in the United States over 40 years ago. Infante’s investigation raised questions about the trains’ poor condition and the risks they pose to public safety.
Following the report, the Municipality of Lima issued a public statement accusing La República and Infante of “sabotaging” the train system. This triggered a wave of harassment against the journalist, including coordinated attacks on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Infante received death threats directly, and her family members were also contacted and pressured to stop her reporting.
The Press and Society Institute (IPYS) issued an alert condemning the threats and calling on the municipal government to retract its accusations. IPYS stressed that public officials must not fuel attacks against journalists and urged the authorities to guarantee Infante’s safety.
Infante’s case highlights a growing danger for investigative reporters in Peru, particularly those who scrutinise government decisions or public safety issues. Although Peru’s constitution protects freedom of expression and the press, journalists often face intimidation, harassment, and even physical danger when reporting on sensitive topics.
The threats against Infante come amid a broader decline in press freedom in Peru. In recent years, journalists have been subjected to surveillance, defamation, and attacks both online and offline. Advocacy groups, including IPYS and international press freedom organisations, are calling for immediate action to investigate the threats and ensure Infante and her family are protected.
This incident reflects a troubling trend in Latin America where journalists reporting on public corruption or mismanagement are frequently targeted. Without accountability, intimidation campaigns like the one against Infante will continue to undermine the role of the press and erode democratic oversight.
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