Ecuadorian Blogger Paúl Moreno is Freed · Global Voices
Daniela Gallardo

On the afternoon of December 3, Paúl Moreno, the Ecuadorian blogger who had been arrested on charges of fraudulent access to computer systems and databases, was released. Moreno had demonstrated that the government website datoseguro.gov.ec [es] lacks adequate security mechanisms for obtaining data on its citizens.
Moreno said on his blog [es] that the he found the flaw in the system by using easily accessible information on Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. Moreover, a post on hackeruna [es] indicates that on March 7 (the date on which datoseguro.gob.ec was officially launched) vulnerabilities in the platform had already been detected.
On November 30, the National Bureau of Public Records (DINARDAP [es]) sent out a press release [es] stating their reasons for filing a suit against Moreno, in accordance with the law, with the district attorney's office.
To demonstrate support for the blogger and the security of the people of Ecuador, on November 30 the Ecuador Cyber Army (@EcuCyberArmy) hacked both public and private websites [es].
Several media outlets, like Diario Hoy [es], Expreso [es] and El Universo [es] published news of the arrest. Rafael Méndez Meneses (@kevinhurlt) [es] explained the media's attitude toward the blogger's arrest on his blog [es].
On December 1, Paúl Moreno sent a letter [es] asking forgiveness “for any misunderstanding that may have been caused by the misuse of Mr. Rafael Correa's name.” On his end, President Correa said that he has nothing to hide, and called for the blogger's release on his Saturday broadcast:
After his release, Paúl Moreno (@paulcoyote) [es] announced to his Twitter followers:
@paulcoyote: Estoy libre. Muchas gracias a todos. #LiberenaPaulCoyote (Free Paul Coyote) pic.twitter.com/2lvMKeGd
@paulcoyote: I'm free. Thank you everyone. #LiberenaPaulCoyote pic.twitter.com/2lvMKeGd
Photo shared by @paulcoyote on Twitter after his release
Moreno's son, Pulpo Potter (@pulpineitor) [es], also thanked his Twitter followers for supporting his father:
@pulpineitor: Gracias a todos de logro de #LiberenaPaulCoyote este momento ya salio se encuentra bien agradecemos su apoyo gracias de corazón.
@pulpineitor: Thank you everyone for supporting #LiberenaPaulCoyote he's out now and is doing well. our heartfelt thanks for your support.
Carlos Correa (@calu) [es] reported on developments in the case, from the time of Paúl Moreno's arrest until his release, via an online note [es] that he updated several times.