Nicolás Maduro begins blocking information ahead of presidential election

Mexico Cityprocess).– As the presidential elections in Venezuela approach (next Sunday, the 28th), the siege and blockade of digital news media and organizations related to the defense of human rights intensifies.

Just on July 22, the Conexión Segura y Libre, a group that has a surveillance program called “VE without filters,” reported blocking the websites of four media outlets that day, an organization that promotes free speech and opposes the surveillance program site itself.

“Ten years of condemning Internet censorship and proactively blocking a hundred websites networkIn particular, there are reports from the media and NGOs that on July 22 of this year, the main operator blocked our domain vesinfiltro?com,” the organization said in a message on social networks.

To this end, he called on observers and spectators attending the vote in Venezuela to “take note of how civic space is being closed in the days before the presidential elections” and recommended that citizens take steps to exercise their rights and install a trusted VPN (Secure Private Network).

“Let us resist internet censorship and exercise our rights,” said the group, which said it offers a safe “unfiltered news” app for users.

He noted that what is happening is a clear impact that is “particularly serious in the context of elections. It is the lack of guarantees for the right to vote and participate to be exercised in an informed manner.”

These closures represent severe restrictions to enable citizens to participate in the public debate and provide input for informed engagement, especially given the importance of the 28 July process.

“We also condemn these blockades as illegal, arbitrary, and in violation of due process, and as human rights violations that violate international standards and the constitution itself,” the group said.

He recalled that Venezuela’s constitution guarantees access to information and freedom of expression, even during a state of emergency. “It is one of the few rights that cannot be suspended under any circumstances.”

He also condemned the blockade as being carried out without legal procedures, and that those affected were not informed in advance, so they could not defend themselves.

Censorship escalates

The VE Unfiltered surveillance program works to promote security in the digital ecosystem, monitoring and documenting internet disruptions, internet access and blocking or so-called internet censorship.

Secure and Free Connection has recorded blocking of 12 sites since the campaign began on July 4 last year network“Most media; and secondly, non-governmental organizations, which in this case aim to promote the right to information, press freedom and freedom of expression,” the organization told process.

He mentioned the case of the ISP (service provider) of the Protón VPN operator being blocked, “who offered to provide services for free during the July 28 elections.”

On July 20, Switzerland-based Protón VPN unblocked servers in Venezuela. However, another private provider blocked Proton.

Regarding the blockade implemented on Monday the 22nd, there is a record on the media website because it is, Stimulus measures, Analysis and Runrun.esThe latter had already blocked two other operators, but on Monday it blocked a third ISP.

On the same day, the Medianalisis organization, which promotes rights such as freedom of expression and dissemination of research, was blocked.

The VE site itself is blocked without filtering.

According to the organization, these blockades began at 12 noon Venezuelan time.

In order to achieve truly free elections, human rights need to be protected, among which freedom of speech, information and opinion is one of the most important.

He called it a serious escalation of violations of the rights to information and freedom of expression, as well as participation in elections.

The monitoring project documented the active blocking of a total of 60 media outlets and 9 organizations concerned with the defence or promotion of human rights during its operation.

A Venezuelan journalist consulted explained that after the country’s main Internet provider, Cantv (public), began blocking information and social organization websites, private providers also participated in this strategy to prevent them from operating.

He also clarified that, although these blocks on digital media are not new, they have intensified during the presidential campaign, when, according to polls, nearly 80% of Venezuelans believe in the need for a change of government and are opposed to Nicolás’s administration.

Close and Silence

Free and Secure Connect defended the work it did and defined it as “technical and impartial”, as it even clarified in some cases complaints that were considered to be blockages, but in fact had other reasons.

He explained that in light of recent cases, he had asked the authorities, specifically the National Telecommunications Commission, to provide information on why the page was blocked. networkwhether an investigation is underway and who ordered it, but no response was received.

There was also no response from the operators that implemented the blockade: Cantv, Digitel, Movistar, Intel, Net1, the four largest operators in Venezuela.

“The group points out that this is an omission that allows us to ensure opacity and ambiguity in the implementation of the prior review process, which is also clearly prohibited by the Constitution.”