---
title: "Robert Aquilina Reports Online Threats and Defamation to Police"
date: 2026-06-17T20:01:30.826+00:00
updated: 2026-06-18T08:03:39.157+00:00
topics: ["Politics", "Crime", "Community", "National"]
canonical: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-06-17/robert-aquilina-reports-online-threats-defamation-police
source: Fil-Qosor
---

# Robert Aquilina Reports Online Threats and Defamation to Police

## In brief

- Rule of law activist Robert Aquilina has filed a police report concerning online threats and defamation.
- The report details an AI-generated image circulated by Labour Party supporters and a death threat Mr. Aquilina received.
- Mr. Aquilina also reported a defamatory post made by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Chairman of the National Skills Council.

Rule of law activist Robert Aquilina has filed a police report regarding online threats and defamation. The report addresses an artificial intelligence-generated image that was circulated by Labour Party supporters.

According to Newsbook, Mr. Aquilina stated that this image forms part of a sustained campaign aimed at dehumanising him and inciting hostility. He is the former president of the rule of law NGO Repubblika.

Writing in The Maltese Herald, Mr. Aquilina detailed that he received a death threat, along with racial abuse and violent threats, from Labour Party supporters. These threats reportedly followed a malicious post by a government official.

He identified Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Chairman of the National Skills Council, as the individual who made a defamatory post against him. Mr. Aquilina stated that Mr. Pullicino Orlando accused him of "brutally attacked a government minister for nothing."

Mr. Aquilina further commented on what he described as a pattern of "mob violence" in Malta against those who criticise fraud and corruption involving Labour Party politicians, suggesting the situation is becoming more intense.

## The Spin Room

**Medium media divide.** Newsbook reported on Robert Aquilina's police report regarding online threats and an AI-generated image, while The Maltese Herald, in a first-person account, detailed the death threats and defamatory posts, linking them to Labour Party supporters and a government official.

- **Newsbook:** Focused on the filing of the police report by Robert Aquilina and his claims of a campaign to dehumanise him through an AI-generated image circulated by Labour Party supporters.
- **The Maltese Herald:** Presented a first-person account from Robert Aquilina, emphasising the death threats, racial abuse, and violent threats received from Labour Party supporters, following a defamatory post by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando. It framed these incidents as part of a broader pattern of 'mob violence' against critics of Labour Party politicians.

## Updates

- **2026-06-18:** Updated with reporting from NET News, The Malta Independent, and TVM News, confirming the police report was filed over an alleged AI-generated image.

## Sources (6, 5 outlets)

- [NET News](https://netnews.com.mt/2026/06/17/robert-aquilina-jitlob-gal-investigazzjoni-brabta-ma-kampanja-ta-de-umanizzazzjoni-kontrih/)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-06-17/local-news/Repubblika-decries-intimidation-campaign-as-Aquilina-files-police-report-over-online-image-6736290589)
- [TVM News](https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/robert-aquilina-files-police-report-over-alleged-ai-generated-facebook-image/ "Robert Aquilina files Police Report over alleged AI-generated Facebook image")
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/robert-aquilina-files-report-over-social-media-image-shared-by-labour-supporters/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/06/17/ive-just-reported-a-death-threat-to-the-police/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/06/17/chairman-of-national-skills-council-riles-the-labour-mob-with-defamatory-post-against-journalist/)

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