By Bernardo Moreno
A former Televisa collaborator has leaked 5 terabytes of information to Aristegui Noticias, revealing the existence of a clandestine operation called “Palomar” carried out by Televisa to bolster its economic and political interests. Germán Gómez García worked as a collaborator in this operation, managed by the assistant to the president’s information cabinet in Televisa.
The “Palomar” operation is a covert and clandestine operation (BlackOp) that uses manipulation and discredit techniques to influence public opinion and attack competitors. In collaboration with the company Metrics, dedicated to data science, advanced technology, and strategic intelligence, Televisa implements discredit campaigns, to produce fake news, fake videos, and manipulate content. It also uses armies of bots and fake profiles on social media to influence public opinion.
The leak has revealed several specific cases in which the “Palomar” operation was used, including:
- Black campaign against Carlos Slim, Televisa’s main competitor in multimedia.
- Positioning of Minister Saldívar for the presidency of the Supreme Court.
- Westhill case: alleged allegations of sexual abuse of minors by the son of a magistrate in a school, with the aim of damaging the image of Jorge Camero Ocampo, who at the time was reviewing amparo appeals against the construction of the Santa Lucía airport.
- Discredit campaigns against Carlos Salinas Pliego, Televisa’s main competitor in television.
- Spread of fake news with the help of bots and creation of content that hits Carmen Aristegui media-wise.
Javier Tejado Dondé is in charge of the “Palomar” operation and is assistant to the president’s information cabinet in Televisa. In addition to his high-ranking position in PR and information at Televisa, Tejado Dondé writes for El Universal and has worked as a media advisor for the INE (electoral bureau).
TelevisaLeaks adds to a series of recent scandals that have revealed questionable practices by governments and media outlets. Some examples include GuacamayaLeaks, PanamaPapers, WikiLeaks, and Snowden’s revelations. These scandals have generated debates about freedom of expression, privacy, and transparency.
TelevisaLeaks leak could have significant consequences for Televisa and its allies in the media. It’s important to be aware of these developments and their possible consequences. Soon, there will be a conversation between Javier Tejado Dondé, Germán Gómez García, and Carmen Aristegui.
The “Palomar” operation reminds me of the Polish film “Hater”, which shows a company that uses similar tactics to manipulate public opinion and attack its competitors. It’s crucial that citizens are informed and critical of the information they receive, especially at a time when manipulation and disinformation are increasingly common.
