“The Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP, for its initials in Spanish) rejects the decision by Bogotá’s Fourth Criminal Court for Adolescents with Trial Jurisdiction ordering news outlet Cerosetenta to remove in its entirety an investigative report about a public figure. The ruling constitutes a disproportionate restriction on freedom of expression and press freedom because it imposes the most severe measure against the circulation of information without adequately weighing its impact on public debate.
The report, published May 11, 2026, examined the alleged connections between individuals linked to far-right movements in Colombia and an international neo-Nazi network. In that context, the investigation referred to Jorge Rodríguez, who ran for Colombia’s House of Representatives in the 2026 legislative elections as a candidate for the Centro Democrático party.
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In compliance with the court order, the outlet removed the content from its digital platforms. The decision sends a troubling message for investigative journalism. […] FLIP calls on Colombia’s judges to resolve conflicts between the right to reputation and press freedom in accordance with constitutional and Inter-American human rights standards. The removal of news content should be a truly exceptional measure and should occur only when supported by heightened judicial reasoning demonstrating its necessity and proportionality.”
