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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [POLITICS]
15 clusters · 93 sources · 60 days · First seen · Last updated
Press freedom and censorship in Venezuela
Overview
Journalistic organizations and NGOs in Venezuela have documented a pattern of systemic censorship and attacks on freedom of expression. In July 2026, the NGO Espacio Público reported 26 violations, noting that 77.78% of victims were journalists. These incidents, often involving intimidation by security forces and public officials, followed an emergency state declared after earthquakes in late June. Officials such as acting president Delcy Rodríguez and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello used rhetoric to delegitimize reporting, with Rodríguez referring to citizen reports as ‘media laboratories’ and Cabello characterizing coverage as a ‘media war.’ By late August, reports from the Colegio Nacional de Periodistas (CNP) and the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa (SNTP) indicated that these restrictions are structural. In late September 2026, following a second cycle of political dialogue, acting president Delcy Rodríguez ordered the lifting of administrative and judicial restrictions against certain digital platforms and journalists. While the government framed the move as a commitment to the ‘diversity of thought and the right to truthful information,’ monitoring groups characterized the progress as partial. As of September 26, VE Sin Filtro reported that unblocking remained inconsistent across providers like Inter, Digitel, and Movistar, with at least 177 domains still restricted. By early October 2026, digital censorship appeared to intensify, reversing previous indications of openness. Monitoring by Espacio Público and OONI revealed that the news outlet El Nacional faced an inaccessibility rate of 78%. Approximately 40 websites remain blocked, including news portals such as La Patilla and VPItv, as well as financial platforms like AirTM. Additionally, at least four radio stations were closed in the Táchira, Miranda, Carabobo, and Capital District regions.
Entities
Venezuela · Conatel · Delcy Rodríguez · Espacio Público · VE Sin Filtro
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
Coverage disagrees
Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.
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"At least 188 websites remain blocked in Venezuela, including 79 news portals."
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"The NGO VE Sin Filtro reports that at least 194 websites, including 84 news outlets, remain blocked in Venezuela."
The claims provide different numbers for the total amount of blocked web domains/websites reported by VE Sin Filtro (194 vs 188).
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"The organization VE Sin Filtro reported that 177 web domains remained blocked by at least one internet provider in Venezuela."
vs
"The NGO VE Sin Filtro reports that at least 194 websites, including 84 news outlets, remain blocked in Venezuela."
The claims provide different numbers for the total amount of blocked web domains/websites reported by VE Sin Filtro (177 vs 194).
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"The organization VE Sin Filtro reported that 177 web domains remained blocked by at least one internet provider in Venezuela."
vs
"At least 188 websites remain blocked in Venezuela, including 79 news portals."
The claims provide different numbers for the total amount of blocked web domains/websites reported by VE Sin Filtro (177 vs 188).
- [DISPUTED] The organization VE Sin Filtro reported that 177 web domains remained blocked by at least one internet provider in Venezuela.
- [DISPUTED] The NGO VE Sin Filtro reports that at least 194 websites, including 84 news outlets, remain blocked in Venezuela.
- [● 22 SOURCES] Acting President Delcy Rodríguez ordered the lifting of administrative measures against a group of web portals and platforms.
- [● 22 SOURCES] The decision to lift restrictions followed recommendations from the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence and political dialogue sessions.
- [● 18 SOURCES] Conatel previously ordered the restoration of access to a group of national and international digital platforms on September 17.
- [● 13 SOURCES] Of the blocked domains, 72 belong to news sites across 51 different portals.
- [● 10 SOURCES] The unblocking of certain media portals is viewed as a first step toward restoring civil rights.
- [● 10 SOURCES] Conatel announced the formal restoration of access to various national and international digital platforms and media outlets.
- [● 7 SOURCES] A second cycle of US-backed negotiations for political transition began on September 17.
- [● 6 SOURCES] A coalition of 38 media outlets, 63 organizations, and 164 individuals signed a manifesto demanding the restoration of freedom of expression in Venezuela.
Timeline
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[POLITICS] 5 sourcesVenezuela: Espacio Público reports rising censorship and intimidation
Espacio Público reports rising censorship in Venezuela, documenting 89 cases of freedom of expression violations and criticizing the Law against Hate for enabling intimidation and extortion.
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[POLITICS] 2 sourcesVenezuela digital censorship escalates with 78% block on El Nacional
Digital censorship in Venezuela is escalating, with El Nacional facing 78% inaccessibility and dozens of other websites and radio stations remaining blocked or closed despite previous signs of openness.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 19 sourcesVenezuela orders unblocking of digital platforms following political dialogue
Venezuela has ordered the unblocking of several digital platforms and news portals following political dialogue. While 47 domains have been restored, NGOs report at least 177 sites remain censored.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 33 sourcesVenezuela unblocks web portals following political dialogue
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez ordered the unblocking of various web portals following political dialogue, though NGOs report over 160 domains remain censored.
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[POLITICS] 3 sourcesSNTP demands full unblocking of news portals in Venezuela
The SNTP is demanding that Venezuela's Conatel and internet providers fully lift DNS blocks on at least 31 news portals, including national media and international outlets like The Wall Street Journal.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 7 sourcesVenezuela internet censorship persists despite partial unblocking of media sites
Despite Conatel partially unblocking some websites in Venezuela, NGOs and the UN warn that widespread digital censorship persists, with over 170 news and human rights domains still inaccessible.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 27 sourcesVenezuela unblocks several news websites following years of censorship
Venezuela's regulator Conatel has unblocked several news websites, including El Nacional and El Pitazo, ahead of new political talks between the government and opposition regarding freedom of expression.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 24 sourcesVenezuela unblocks digital news sites amid political negotiations
Venezuela's Conatel has unblocked several news websites, a move seen as a first step in US-backed political negotiations regarding press freedom and civil rights.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sourcesVenezuela faces aid transparency and press freedom challenges
Venezuela faces challenges in tracking humanitarian aid following June's earthquakes, amid rising reports of government opacity and 170 press freedom violations recorded in 2026.
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[POLITICS] 6 sourcesVenezuela internet censorship: Over 200 domains remain blocked
NGO VE Sin Filtro reports that over 200 internet domains, including 92 news sites, remain blocked in Venezuela, targeting media and human rights organizations.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 6 sourcesMedia groups demand freedom of expression in Venezuela negotiations
Media organizations in Venezuela are demanding that the political opposition prioritize freedom of expression and the removal of digital censorship in upcoming negotiations.
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[POLITICS] 7 sourcesVenezuela media and NGOs demand end to censorship
A coalition of media, NGOs, and activists in Venezuela has issued a manifesto demanding the repeal of repressive laws and the transformation of Conatel to restore freedom of expression.
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[POLITICS] 3 sourcesVenezuela faces economic crisis and rising political repression
Venezuela faces 129.82% inflation and rising political repression. Opposition leaders will use a new IAPA report on press freedom violations to bolster upcoming negotiations with the government.
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[POLITICS] 2 sourcesVenezuela faces persistent press censorship and digital disinformation networks
Journalists in Venezuela face ongoing censorship and legal persecution, while NGOs report a digital disinformation network targeting media outlets investigating corruption.
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[POLITICS] 2 sourcesVenezuela: 26 freedom of expression violations reported in July
NGO Espacio Público reported 26 violations of freedom of expression in Venezuela during July, noting that 77% of victims were journalists facing censorship and intimidation during the earthquake emergency.
Sources
14ymedio.com · 2001online.com · actualidad.es · alertas24.com · almomento.mx · arepatecnologica.com · articulo14.com · atento.com.do · brasil247.com · brasilemfolhas.com.br · calibre800.com · caraotadigital.net · cazadoresdefakenews.info · cesarmiguelrondon.com · cnpven.org · comunicacioncontinua.com · contextohn.com · contrapodernews.com · contrapunto.com · correiodamanhacanada.com · cronica.uno · cronicadecantabria.com · curadas.com · deultimominuto.net · diariocol.com.ar · diariosocialrd.com · dominicanaaldia.com · el-carabobeno.com · elburgado.com · elclarinweb.com · eldiario.com · eldiario.es · elestimulo.com · elinformadorve.com · elnacional.com.py · elnuevodiario.com.do · elnuevosiglo.com.co · eltiempove.com · en.tempo.co · energyalerts.com · entornointeligente.com · es.euronews.com · espiganoticias.net · excelsior.com.mx · expreso.ec · fr.news.yahoo.com · g5noticias.cl · gacetamexicana.com
This summary has been updated 29 times: see revision history