Access to The National continues to be restricted in Venezuela despite official announcements about the lifting of “administrative measures” against portals and digital platforms, in a process that, according to VE Sin Filtro measurements, has occurred partially and selectively among internet providers.
In its most recent update, the organization documented that, more than three days after starting this new process, 76 domains had been unlocked in at least one of the evaluated providers.
The report also indicates that 20 domains were released between September 15 and 16, while another 56 regained access as of September 25. In parallel, VE Sin Filtro counted 148 domains that were still blocked in at least one provider.
After more than three days, the organization pointed out that it is evident that there was never any intention to unblock media outlets such as The Patilla, The National, Armando.info, VPI TV, EVTV Miami, NTN24 either PBS.
Web unblocking announcement contrasts with the reality of censorship
This situation contrasts with the announcement made by the Venezuelan Executive, which initially reported on the immediate unblocking of a set of platforms and web portals. Later, the government replaced that formulation with “administrative measures for a group of web platforms and portals,” without publishing a complete list of the domains included in the measure.
VE Sin Filtro pointed out that the lifting of restrictions constitutes progress, but warned that compliance must be verified through verifiable results. The organization explained that a domain may appear unlocked in one provider and continue to be restricted in another, which is why it considers it necessary to check access from the main operators in the country.
In the case of The Nationalthe portal continues to face access restrictions despite the announced measures. The medium had already been identified among the sites affected by internet blockages and, after the first uprisings registered in September, it remained one of the portals whose situation raised doubts about the real scope of the measure.
The unlocking process also takes place in parallel to the dialogue between government representatives and the delegation of the National Assembly elected in 2015. The lifting of internet restrictions was incorporated among the commitments discussed during the second cycle of talks, amid demands related to freedom of expression and access to information.
