FUNDAMEDIOS, an Ecuadorian organization promoting freedom of expression, published an online guide for reporting on Equator’s upcoming elections entitled “Manual para Coberturas Electorales.” The manual includes tips for how users can sidestep censorship of political content on social media, an ongoing trend that has targeted the voices of civil society. Shortly after Ecuador’s first round of elections in February, Ecuadorian activist Diana Maldonado was blocked from using Facebook after she posted a screenshot of a news article about a death threat against Assemblywoman Diane Rodriguez, a member of Ecuador’s ruling political party. Maldonado claims Rodriguez’s team reported the post as offensive and lobbied Facebook to suspend her profile.

Political tensions and disputes in Ecuador have intensified since elections last February. However, neither of the presidential candidates received the required 40% of the votes to win outright and now face a run-off presidential election on April 2, 2017.