Global InformationCensorship and media control during the Venezuelan presidential crisis information
There has been censorship and media control during Venezuelan presidential crisis between 2019 and January 2023.
A crisis concerning who is the legitimate President of Venezuela began on 10 January 2019, when the opposition-majority National Assembly declared that incumbent Nicolás Maduro's 2018 reelection was invalid and the body declared its president, Juan Guaidó, to be acting president of the nation. The process and results of the May 2018 Venezuelan presidential election were widely disputed.[1] The National Assembly declared Maduro illegitimate on the day of his second inauguration, citing the 1999 Constitution of Venezuela enacted under Hugo Chávez, Maduro's predecessor; in response, the pro-Maduro Supreme Tribunal of Justice said the National Assembly's declaration was unconstitutional.[2]
Maduro's government states that the crisis is a "coup d'état led by the United States to topple him and control the country's oil reserves".[3][4] Guaidó denies the coup allegations, saying peaceful volunteers back his movement.[5]
Since the beginning of the presidential crisis, Venezuela has been exposed to frequent "information blackouts", periods without access to internet or other news services during important political events.[6][7] Since January, the National Assembly and Guaido's speeches are regularly disrupted, television channels and radio programs have been censored and many journalists have been illegally detained.[6] The Venezuelan press workers union reported that in 2019, 40 journalists had been illegally detained as of 12 March.[8] As of June 2019, journalists have been denied access to seven sessions of the National Assembly by the National Guard.[9]
Most Venezuelan television channels are controlled by the state, and information unfavorable to the government is not covered completely.[6] Newspapers and magazines are scarce, as most are unable to afford paper to print.[6] The underfunded web infrastructure has led to slow Internet connection speeds.[6]
The information blackouts have promoted the creation of underground news coverage that is usually broadcast through social media and instant message services like WhatsApp.[6] The dependence of Venezuelans on social media has also promoted the spread of disinformation and pro-Maduro propaganda.[6]
Venezuela got the rank 148 of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders in 2019. The country went down five places since 2018.[10]
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has made a call to Maduro administration to reestablish television and radio channels that have been closed, cease on the restrictions to Internet access, and to protect the rights of journalists.[11][12]
In 2022, pro-government deputy Jesús Faría admitted that the government blocked digital outlets.[13]
- ^ Bullock, Penn (10 January 2019). "Climate Change, U.S. Shutdown, Michael Cohen: Your Friday Briefing". New York Times (Online) – via ProQuest.
President Nicolás Maduro was inaugurated for a second term after an election last year that was widely considered illegitimate—and despite a plummeting economy and skyrocketing violence, hunger and migration.
- ^ "El Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela declara "inconstitucional" a la Asamblea Nacional y anula el nombramiento de Juan Guaidó como su presidente". BBC Mundo (in Spanish). 21 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Canciller Arreaza advierte que objetivo de plan golpista es el petróleo venezolano" (in Spanish). presidencia.gob.ve. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ "Maduro afirma que el petróleo es el principal motivo de la presión de EEUU contra Venezuela" (in Spanish). Europa Press. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ Borges, Anelise (18 February 2019). "'I'm ready to die for my country's future,' Juan Guaido tells Euronews". Euronews. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference
Timearticlewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
cpj30aprilwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Escalona, José (13 March 2019). "173 agresiones a trabajadores de la prensa contabiliza Comisión de Medios de la Asamblea Nacional #13Mar". El Impulso (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ "Soldiers block press access to Venezuelan parliament". CPJ. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ^ Leung, Hilary (18 April 2019). "2019 World Press Freedom Index Shows Global Decline". Time. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "The Office of the Special Rapporteur condemns closure of Radio Caracas Radio 750 AM, the censorship of television channels, restrictions on the Internet, and the arrest of journalists in Venezuela". Organization of American States. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "CIDH condenó cierre de medios de comunicación y detenciones de periodistas". TalCual (in Spanish). 15 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Chavista Jesús Faría admite bloqueo a medios digitales en Venezuela". El Estímulo (in Spanish). 5 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.