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Press freedom and censorship in Venezuela

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2026-10-07 23:02 UTC → 2026-10-10 09:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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