Service blocking
Twitter, Instagram
Data from the NetBlocks internet observatory show that Venezuela’s state-run internet provider ABA CANTV (AS8048) and private internet provider Supercable (AS22313) have restricted access to Twitter and Instagram as of 4:30 p.m. UTC (12:30 p.m. VET) Tuesday 18 June 2019 during the live streaming of a session of the Venezuelan National Assembly. In the session, parliamentarians are expected to address topics including the release of political prisoner Gilber Caro and plan a response to cases of alleged embezzlement in Cúcuta.
- Total Duration 0 hours
Venezuela
- Population
- 28,300,854
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Not Free
Local impact
Data from the NetBlocks internet observatory show that Venezuela’s state-run internet provider ABA CANTV (AS8048) and private internet provider Supercable (AS22313) have restricted access to Twitter and Instagram as of 4:30 p.m. UTC (12:30 p.m. VET) Tuesday 18 June 2019 during the live streaming of a session of the Venezuelan National Assembly. In the session, parliamentarians are expected to address topics including the release of political prisoner Gilber Caro and plan a response to cases of alleged embezzlement in Cúcuta.
Related documentation
Other supporting information
Access to Twitter and Instagram was reportedly restricted in Venezuela during the National Assembly session. OONI data collected from Venezuela may corroborate these reported blocks.
The following chart aggregates OONI measurement coverage from the testing of twitter.com in Venezuela between June 15 to 21.
Chart: OONI Probe testing of Twitter in Venezuela between June 15 to 21. (source: OONI MAT).
As is evident, the testing of Twitter presented anomalies on June 18, which coincides with the date of the reported blocking. A per-ASN breakdown of the measurement coverage shows that these anomalies only occurred on CANTV (AS8048), which is also the only network in Venezuela where OONI Probe users tested Twitter that day.
Chart: ASN testing coverage of Twitter in Venezuela between June 15 to 21 (source: OONI MAT).
Meanwhile, we observe that twitter was found accessible on all tested networks the next day (June 19).
Similarly, OONI data shows that the testing of Instagram only presented anomalies on CANTV (AS8048) on June 18 (but was found accessible on all tested networks the next day).
Chart: ASN testing coverage of Instagram in Venezuela between June 15 to 21 (source: OONI MAT).
While OONI data provides signals of potential Twitter and Instagram blocking on CANTV on June 18, the limited measurement coverage limits our confidence in confirming these blocks.