Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose re-election is being contested by the opposition that claims for victory, announced yesterday during a demonstration in his support in the capital Caracas that the social network “X“ was “suspended“ in ten days, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The agency in charge of telecommunications “decided to remove the social network “X“ for a period of 10 days, Maduro said, stressing that this was done at his suggestion.
„No one will silence me, I will stand up to the espionage of the technological empire. Elon Musk is the owner of “X“ and has broken all the rules of the social network by inciting hatred and fascism," continued Maduro, who regularly accuses the American billionaire of plotting against him.
Representatives of the Venezuelan authorities (individuals, ministries, state agencies) are present on social networks, where they communicate widely.
The president announced on Monday that he was quitting WhatsApp, criticizing the social network, which he accused of attempting a "criminal cyber-fascist coup" after his contested election.
The National Electoral Council on Friday, August 2, ratified Maduro's victory with 52% of the vote, but did not make public the vote count and polling station protocols, claiming it had been hacked.
According to the opposition, which published the protocols obtained thanks to its enumerators – the validity of which Maduro rejects, Edmundo González Urrutia, who replaced the ineligible opposition leader María Corina Machado, won 67% of the vote.
The opposition, as well as many observers, believe that the hacking allegations are aimed at avoiding the publication of polling station reports.
Maduro and authorities have repeatedly accused Musk of being involved in the cyber attack.
Unrest that followed the incumbent president's announcement of victory has left 24 dead since July 28, according to an updated report released Tuesday by rights groups, including the U.S. branch of Human Rights Watch.