5 days ago
Venezuela Restores Access to News Sites Before Transition Talks
Venezuela has allowed people to visit some news websites that had been blocked.
Officials made the change before political talks supported by the United States.
A digital rights group said 17 news platforms were restored.
However, at least 188 websites are still blocked.
Some of the restored websites have not worked reliably.
Government officials said the decision could reduce political fighting and support responsible journalism.
Opposition leaders said it was helpful but not enough.
Separately, former mayor Javier Oropeza was briefly detained after returning from exile and was later released.
Venezuela’s telecommunications regulator said access had been restored to several previously blocked national and international news platforms.
Digital rights group VE Sin Filtro confirmed that 17 platforms, including TalCual, Runrunes, and NTN24, were accessible through multiple internet providers.
At least 188 websites remain blocked, including 79 news outlets, while some supposedly unblocked sites reported intermittent access.
The government said the move aims to reduce political polarization and promote responsible journalism ahead of United States-backed transition talks.
Opposition representatives welcomed the change as a first step but demanded permanent restoration, while former mayor Javier Oropeza was briefly detained after returning from exile.
- Who
- Venezuela’s telecommunications regulator, government officials, opposition representatives, digital rights group VE Sin Filtro, and former mayor Javier Oropeza.
- What
- Access was restored to 17 previously blocked news platforms, while Oropeza was briefly detained after returning from exile.
- Where
- The website access changes concern Venezuela, while Oropeza was detained in Barquisimeto.
- When
- The unblocking was announced ahead of the second round of transition talks; Oropeza was detained on Thursday, September 17.
- Why
- Officials said the measure aims to reduce political polarization and promote responsible journalism; the talks focus heavily on freedom of expression.
Government and regulatory position
Media and opposition position
Purpose of unblocking
Government and regulatory position
Deputy Communications Minister Gustavo Villapol said the change is intended to reduce political polarization and promote responsible journalism.
Media and opposition position
Media directors and opposition leaders viewed the move cautiously, with some describing it as an implicit acknowledgment of earlier arbitrary censorship.
Scope of the restoration
Government and regulatory position
The regulator restored access to several national and international digital media platforms ahead of the transition talks.
Media and opposition position
Opposition representatives said restoring 17 platforms was only a first step because at least 188 websites, including 79 news outlets, remain blocked.
Whether the change will last
Government and regulatory position
The announcement presents the access restoration as a regulatory shift before talks focused on freedom of expression.
Media and opposition position
TalCual director Victor Amaya questioned whether the change would be permanent, citing years of traffic losses and reduced advertising revenue for independent newsrooms.
Key facts
- Platforms restored
- 17 news platforms, including TalCual, Runrunes, and NTN24
- Websites still blocked
- At least 188 websites
- Blocked news outlets
- At least 79
- Talks
- Second round of United States-backed political transition talks in Caracas
- Government rationale
- Reducing political polarization and promoting responsible journalism
- Opposition response
- The measure was called a helpful first step, with demands for full and permanent restoration
- Detention
- Former mayor Javier Oropeza was released several hours after being detained
Sources
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