“NoVenezuela, the network is subject to important limitations, most of them state, precisely because it is one of the few spaces for the free dissemination of content and ideas”, pointed out the NGO.
On the other hand, the EP specified that “in 2022, the majority of documented violations of freedom of expression were ‘online’, 52% (118 cases), which represents an increase of 10% compared to 2021”.
“In 2023, between January and April, this number rose to 56%”, he underlined.
“The precarious state of the country’s electrical and telecommunications system has affected the ability to seek, receive and disseminate information in real time. (…) In the first four months of the year, this situation occurred on at least 17 occasions, affecting inhabitants and the media in all regions of the country”, indicated the NGO, specifying the occurrence of “service interruptions, either due to failures by the operator itself or due to fluctuations in the electricity service”.
According to the EP, “in the last week, at least two massive network failures were recorded, mainly in the network of the state-owned company CANTV, which reaches more users in several states of the country”.
On May 8th, the Internet observatory ‘VE Sem Filter’ recorded a power failure in the state of Barinas, west of the country, which caused an interruption of the Internet in several states, between 65% and 85%, for almost seven hours .
On May 9, another network failure affected several states in the west of the country, mainly Mérida and Táchira.
According to the EP, “internet portals were blocked”, including the online pages of the social media Crónica Uno, Efecto Cocuyo and EVTV Miami.
The EP also denounced “reprisals against citizens for disclosing information” on the Internet, indicating the case of seven people who were “arbitrarily detained”. The NGO explained that six of these people were accused of alleged “incitement to hatred”.
‘Espacio Público’ is a non-profit, non-governmental, independent and autonomous civil association of political parties, religious institutions, international or governmental organizations, which promotes and defends Human Rights, especially freedom of expression, the right to information and social responsibility in the Venezuelan press.
A recent survey carried out by the companies Tendências Digitais and Datanálisis found that Internet coverage in Venezuela is 73% (19.89 million connected users), of which 42% are aged between 18 and 34 years old.
The same study indicated that 57% of Venezuelans use a mobile device to connect to the Internet.
Read Also: Today is World Internet Day. GNR advice to protect yourself
Always be the first to know.
Seventh consecutive year Consumer Choice for Online Press.
Download our free App.
