Humberto Prado Sifontes (Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones)

Human rights advocate Humberto Prado’s Facebook account hacked as part of a smear campaign

In late April 2016, the personal Facebook account of Humberto Prado Sifontes, director of the Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP), was hacked and used to post false information and a doctored photograph (showing him with a gun and a Polar beer) accusing him of being funded by the company Empresas Polar and of being a “pran” (prison gang leader). At the same time, a smear campaign unfolded on Twitter, where alleged private emails were leaked and the hashtag #HumbertoPradoPranDePolar went viral. The incident occurred following statements Prado made to the media about the prison crisis, in which he pointed to the responsibility of then-Governor Tareck El Aissami. On April 27, 2016, Prado filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The exact date of the hack varies depending on the source (April 26 according to FIDH; April 23 according to Front Line Defenders).