Cyberattacks Target Local Media in Ecuador’s Morona Santiago Province

July 16, 2025 – Ecuador – 

In July 2025, Ecuador’s Morona Santiago province witnessed a series of coordinated cyberattacks targeting local media outlets, resulting in the mass deletion of news content from their digital platforms. The affected outlets—La Mañana MS, Exprésate Morona Santiago, and Radio Sentimientos—reported that takedown requests were filed on the basis of alleged copyright violations. However, these media organizations contend that the true intent behind these actions was to suppress critical reporting on local authorities, particularly the Morona Santiago local and regional governments.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of digital repression against the press in Ecuador. In 2023, digital outlet La Posta experienced two separate distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks within 48 hours, rendering their site inaccessible for two days. Similarly, in 2022, several political platforms reported technical problems with their websites and social media accounts, alleging technical attacks during the country’s national strike.

The recent cyberattacks in Morona Santiago have raised concerns about the erosion of press freedom in Ecuador. Fundamedios, a press freedom organization, has documented numerous instances of attacks and threats against journalists and media workers in the country. Between August and September 2021 alone, 34 violations of freedoms of expression and the press were registered, including physical aggressions, threats, and online attacks.

These developments underscore the challenges faced by independent media in Ecuador, where digital repression and physical threats continue to undermine journalistic integrity and freedom.

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Coordinated cyberattacks hit local media in Ecuador’s Morona Santiago province, reports say