Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro speaks to the media during an event to sign an agreement to recognize the results of the July 28 presidential election, held by the National Electoral Commission in Caracas, Venezuela, June 20, 2024.
Miraflores Palace | via Reuters
Controversial Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a 10-day ban on social network platform X following a dispute with Elon Musk, cutting off locals’ access to the platform access.
In a speech translated by CNBC on Thursday, Maduro said he signed a decree ordering Venezuela’s telecoms regulator to block X because the company’s owner Elon Musk “violated the social network Twitter” All the rules for .
Maduro added that Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) would “suspend X social network (formerly known as Twitter) from circulation in Venezuela for 10 days” to allow X to respond.
Internet monitoring company NetBlocks confirmed that X is now restricted in Venezuela under Maduro’s orders.
According to a NetBlocks post on X, several ISPs in the country were shown cutting off access to the site, with some showing zero reachability and others showing limited access.
Musk has engaged in a war of words with Maduro, who claims he won a third six-year term in disputed election results.
Musk wrote on X: “Shame on dictator Maduro” and accused Venezuela’s long-time leader of committing “major electoral fraud.”
In this regard, Maduro Challenge the tech billionaire and fight himtold national television: “Elon Musk, I’m ready. I’m not afraid of you… Let’s fight, wherever you want to go.”
Replying to X’s post, which included a snippet of Maduro’s comments, Musk said: “I accept that.”
Protests have erupted in Venezuela following the 2024 presidential election on July 28, which has been marred by allegations of misconduct and electoral fraud.
Maduro’s government has suppressed the protests and deployed riot police to quell the unrest.
Both Maduro and his opponent Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia claimed victory in the election, with national electoral authorities declaring Maduro won 51% of the vote.
However, Washington and other foreign governments expressed doubts about the official results. America, back in April Reimpose sanctions on Venezuela In an effort to pressure Maduro’s government over electoral issues, Gonzalez was recognized as the winner of the disputed July vote.
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