Anika Begay
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addresses the media during an event to sign an agreement to recognize the election results of the July 28 presidential election, at the National Electoral Council, in Caracas, Venezuela, June 20, 2024.
Miraflores Palace | Via Reuters
Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a 10-day ban on social networking platform X, preventing locals from accessing it after a feud with Elon Musk.
In a speech translated by Vscek on Thursday, Maduro said he had signed a decree ordering Venezuela’s telecommunications regulator to block X, because the company’s owner, Elon Musk, “has violated all the rules of the social network Twitter, now known as X, all of them. And he has violated [the rules]inciting hatred, fascism, civil war, death and clashes among Venezuelans, [he] he has violated all the laws of Venezuela. And in Venezuela there are laws… and we will enforce the laws.
Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission, or Conatel, “will remove from circulation in Venezuela for 10 days the social network X, formerly known as Twitter,” allowing X to respond, Maduro added.
Internet monitoring firm NetBlocks has confirmed that X is now restricted in Venezuela, following Maduro’s order.
According to a NetBlocks post on X, several Internet service providers in the country were seen blocking access to the site, some showing zero reachability and others showing limited access.
Musk has sparked a war of words with Maduro, who has claimed he won a third six-year term in power following a disputed election result.
Musk wrote in a post on X: “Shame on the dictator Maduro” and accused the historic Venezuelan leader of committing “serious electoral fraud”.
In response, Maduro challenged the tech billionaire to fight him, telling national television: “Elon Musk, I’m ready. I’m not afraid of you… Let’s fight, wherever you want.”
Responding to a post X containing footage of Maduro’s comments, Musk said: “I agree.”
Protests erupted in Venezuela after the 2024 presidential election on July 28, which was marred by allegations of misconduct and electoral fraud.
Maduro’s government has cracked down on the protests, deploying riot police to quell the unrest.
Both Maduro and his opponent Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia claimed victory in the election; the national electoral authority said Maduro won 51 percent of the vote.
However, Washington and other foreign governments have cast doubt on the official results. The U.S., which reimposed sanctions on Venezuela in April to pressure Maduro’s administration over election concerns, recognized Gonzalez as the winner of the disputed July election.
