Official announcements from the Venezuelan government or CONATEL reports

Maduro Orders Meta-Owned WhatsApp Removal, 10-Day Ban on Elon Musk's X in Venezuela

Aug 9, 2024, 12:09 AM

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced a significant crackdown on social media platforms in the country. Maduro has ordered the 'voluntary, progressive, and radical' removal of the Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp, claiming it is being used by 'fascists' to incite violence and threaten Venezuelans, including military and police families. This action is part of a broader effort to curb what he describes as 'technological imperialism.' During a live television broadcast, Maduro demonstrated the removal of WhatsApp from his phone. Additionally, Maduro has imposed a 10-day ban on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, accusing its owner, Elon Musk, of promoting hatred and inciting violence following a disputed presidential election. The ban is enforced by the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL). Maduro has urged Venezuelans to switch to alternative messaging services like Telegram and WeChat.