Service blocking
Instagram, Periscope
Temporary yet persistent blocks to social media sites and independent news outlets have impacted reporting of the ongoing crisis in the country, with many Venezuelans relying on relatives abroad to send them news on the unrest. The government has blocked many news websites since 2018, leaving locals to rely on messaging apps like Whatsapp and Telegram to stay informed. Journalists and news websites have started channels on Telegram and initiatives like Public Information Service, which pushes one-minute audio recordings of the day’s top news through WhatsApp groups. Some locals lament that limited connectivity has restricted their ability to confirm the information they receive.
- Total Duration 0 hours
Venezuela
- Population
- 28,300,854
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Not Free
Local impact
Temporary yet persistent blocks to social media sites and independent news outlets have impacted reporting of the ongoing crisis in the country, with many Venezuelans relying on relatives abroad to send them news on the unrest. The government has blocked many news websites since 2018, leaving locals to rely on messaging apps like Whatsapp and Telegram to stay informed. Journalists and news websites have started channels on Telegram and initiatives like Public Information Service, which pushes one-minute audio recordings of the day’s top news through WhatsApp groups. Some locals lament that limited connectivity has restricted their ability to confirm the information they receive.
Other supporting information
Venezuela Inteligente reported that state-owned CANTV blocked access to YouTube, Periscope, and Instagram on May 15. OONI data collected from Venezuela appears to corroborate interference with YouTube and Instagram.
Data collected from CANTV (AS8048) in Venezuela shows signs of blocking for Instagram and YouTube on 15th May 2019, as illustrated through the following charts.
Chart: OONI Probe testing of Instagram in Venezuela between 14th to 17th May 2019 (source: OONI MAT).
Chart: OONI Probe testing of YouTube in Venezuela between May 14 to 17 (source: OONI MAT).
Both of the above charts aggregate OONI measurement coverage from multiple networks in Venezuela between May 14 to 17. In both cases, we observe anomalous measurements within this period. However, for the testing of Instagram, OONI data only presented anomalies when tested on Movistar (AS6306) on May 15, but not when tested on CANTV (AS8048) that day. It is possible, though, that the (reportedly temporary) block on CANTV may have been implemented in moments when Instagram was not tested on that network.
YouTube, on the other hand, presented anomalies on May 14 to 16 (but not on May 15). In this case, we observe most anomalies on CANTV (AS8048). While YouTube received some testing coverage on May 15 (as well as on other networks), the site appears to have been accessible in the moments that it was tested. Quite similarly, OONI data does not show any signs of interference with access to Periscope’s website between May 14 to 17.