Venezuela Blocks X for 10 Days Amid Post-Election Tensions with Elon Musk
Venezuela's President Maduro orders a 10-day block on X, accusing Elon Musk of promoting hatred after a disputed election. The move follows accusations of electoral fraud and calls for social media regulation.
In a significant development in Venezuela's ongoing political turmoil, President Nicolás Maduro has announced a 10-day block on access to X, formerly known as Twitter, in the country. This decision comes in the wake of the disputed presidential election held on July 28, 2024, and escalating tensions between Maduro and X's owner, Elon Musk.
The block, implemented on August 8, 2024, was confirmed by Associated Press journalists in Caracas, who reported that X posts had ceased loading on both private and state-owned telephone services. Maduro justified this action by accusing Musk of violating X's rules and inciting hatred through the platform.
"Elon Musk is the owner of X and has violated all the rules of the social network itself. X out for 10 days! Elon Musk out!"
This move comes amidst a broader context of Venezuela's complex political landscape. The country has been grappling with a severe economic crisis since 2010, with its economy contracting by over 75% since 2014. Despite possessing the world's largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela has experienced hyperinflation since 2016, leading to widespread hardship for its citizens.
The recent presidential election has further exacerbated tensions. While electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner, the opposition claims to have evidence suggesting a different outcome. This dispute led to a public exchange between Maduro and Musk, with the latter accusing the Venezuelan leader of "great electoral fraud" on X.
Venezuela's decision to block X is not unprecedented in the country's history of internet censorship. The nation ranks low on global press freedom indices, and CONATEL, the National Telecommunications Commission responsible for implementing the block, has faced accusations of limiting press freedom in the past.
This incident highlights the growing influence of social media platforms in political discourse and the challenges they pose to governments. Musk's acquisition of Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in 2022 has been followed by various controversies and legal challenges related to content moderation in different countries.
The situation in Venezuela remains fluid, with potential implications for freedom of expression and access to information. As the country continues to navigate its political and economic challenges, the international community watches closely, particularly given the estimated exodus of over 7 million Venezuelans since 2015 due to the ongoing crisis.
