CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 10, (AP): Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro is trying to accomplish something that seems impossible in the South American country: steer people away from WhatsApp and X.
Maduro's announcement this week that he had ordered a 10-day block on access to X in Venezuela is the latest in a series of efforts by his government to try to suppress information sharing among people voicing doubts about his claim to victory in the July 28 presidential election.
It also reveals how every aspect of Venezuela's government is subject to Maduro's wants and needs, as he went from demanding his Cabinet to retweet his posts in May to ordering the nation’s telecommunications agency on Thursday to block access to X.
"X out for 10 days! Elon Musk out!” Maduro said Thursday as he announced his decision to temporarily ban the social network and accused its owner, tech billionaire Elon Musk, of using it to promote hatred after Venezuela’s disputed presidential election.
Maduro, who also accused the social network of being used by his opponents to create political unrest, gave the company 10 days to "present their documents,” but he gave no additional details.
The government’s centralized communications office on Friday did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press seeking a copy of the resolution Maduro said he signed to authorize the ban against X.
X’s press office did not immediately respond to an email from AP requesting comment.
Electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of the highly anticipated election, but unlike previous presidential contests, they have yet to produce detailed voting tallies to back up their claim. Meanwhile, the opposition revealed it collected tally sheets from more than 80% of the 30,000 electronic voting machines nationwide showing he lost by a more than 2-to-1 margin.
The dispute drew thousands to the streets in protest to which the government responded with full force. Security forces have since rounded up more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against Maduro or questioning his victory. Venezuela-based human rights organization Provea recorded 24 deaths.