The conflict stems from publications by Raúl Zumba, an influential content creator from Jaén with over 1.6 million followers on social media. Ecomet Jaén, the company behind a biomethane plant project near Mengíbar, has served him with a financial claim amounting to nearly 420,000 euros.

This notification is presented as a conciliation act, a preliminary step before a potential lawsuit. The company argues that the content disseminated by Zumba has damaged its honor, considering the information to be «allegedly inaccurate» and possessing a «possible alarmist nature».

Despite the conditions set to avoid litigation, Raúl Zumba has publicly stated his decision to keep the content on his profiles, inviting his followers to consult it and form their own opinion. The creator has reaffirmed his commitment to continue his communicative work «with responsibility and within the legal framework», defending the right to freedom of expression and access to information on matters of public interest, based on «publicly accessible sources and data, without intending to harm any entity».

The scope of this claim is not limited to Zumba alone, but also extends to other residents and members of a citizen platform in Mengíbar who have actively participated in the debate surrounding the project. This case highlights the growing controversy in the province of Jaén regarding biomethane plants, with citizen mobilizations in municipalities such as Alcalá la Real and the capital itself, and a political debate on the regulation of these facilities in rural areas and their proximity to population centers.

The situation raises a fundamental question about the boundaries between freedom of expression and the protection of honor in the digital sphere, especially when influential figures address issues of public and environmental interest. It will be up to the courts to resolve this tension if the conciliation process is unsuccessful.