Colombian journalist Mateo Pérez, 25, was found dead on Friday in a northwestern region of the country controlled by guerrillas, drug traffickers, and illegal miners. Pérez, director of the digital media outlet El Confidente de Yarumal, had disappeared on Tuesday while covering a rural area of Antioquia. His death adds to the growing list of communicators murdered in Colombia.
Location technology fails in armed conflict zones 📡
Pérez's case exposes the limitations of geolocation systems in regions without network coverage. Tools such as satellite tracking or encrypted messaging apps depend on stable infrastructure, which is absent in areas controlled by armed groups. Devices with offline GPS and emergency beacons could offer alternatives, but their use is not widespread among rural journalists. The lack of investment in connectivity and digital security protocols leaves these professionals at risk.
The only safe app in Yarumal is the one to order a taxi to another country 🚕
While authorities call for investing in cutting-edge technology for journalists, in Yarumal, cell signal only arrives if the wind blows favorably. Pérez's colleagues suggest that, before a surveillance drone, it would be better to install a working traffic light. For now, the most effective tool to avoid disappearing is not leaving home. Or moving to a city with more internet and fewer rifles.