Lorraine Williamson
What should have been a showcase for beaches and events along Castellón’s seafront turned into a digital protest on Friday. Several information screens, normally used to promote local attractions, were hijacked to broadcast political slogans aimed at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Instead of restaurant tips and cultural highlights, passers-by saw folders labelled Corruption, Koldo, Attorney General, Pedro Sánchez, and Hydrocarbons. Each reference alluded to hot-button political scandals, from corruption probes to debates over energy policy.
Local backlash and demands for answers
The hack provoked swift condemnation from the Socialist opposition (PSPV-PSOE). Spokesperson Patricia Puerta accused Mayor Begoña Carrasco of failing to secure municipal systems. She called the stunt “an unacceptable misuse of public resources.”
PSPV’s regional leader, Rafa Simón, echoed the outrage, warning that Castellón risked sliding into toxic political confrontation. Both figures demanded a full inquiry into who was behind the attack and how the city’s digital infrastructure could be so easily compromised.
HazteOir speculation fuels debate
Attention has turned to the ultraconservative lobby group HazteOir, notorious for headline-grabbing campaigns on issues from abortion to LGBTQ+ rights. Just weeks earlier, the group unveiled a giant roadside banner in Valencia branding Sánchez “corrupto.”
The similarities in tone and timing have led to speculation about their involvement in Castellón’s screen hack. Yet so far no evidence links HazteOir to the breach, and investigators have not confirmed any suspects.
Security flaws under scrutiny
Friday’s incident was not an isolated case. The same screens had already displayed unauthorised content in August, though officials gave few details at the time.
The digital panels, part of a municipal tourism initiative, were still in a testing phase and had not been formally launched. Following the latest breach, the city council has pulled the plug entirely, vowing to keep them offline until both the technical failures and the political fallout are addressed.
Castellón’s test of trust
What began as a smart-city project has become a flashpoint for Spain’s wider political tensions. For Castellón, the challenge now is not just fixing software vulnerabilities, but also restoring public trust in how its civic spaces are managed in an increasingly polarised climate.