Edinburgh, Scotland – Amid the fallout from the disputed July 28 election, the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been cracking down on dissent, including independent media and journalists.
According to the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), at least four journalists have been charged with terrorism after being arrested for covering the election process and all were denied access to a private lawyer. Reporters Without Borders has recorded at least 70 attacks on press freedom in the country.
In the days after the election, radio stations played only music and limited their broadcasts to sports and entertainment news after regulator Conatel warned them to “moderate their language”.
Local journalists are forced to work anonymously for fear of government persecution. Social media accounts were eerily silent in the days following the election. Independent media such as Efecto Cocuyo and Caracas Chronicles have used the publication of bylines to protect their journalists.
In response to the crackdown, over 12 independent media organizations that are part of the media initiatives Venezuela Vota and #LaHoraDeVenezuela have turned to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to continue reporting while keeping journalists’ identities secure.
On August 13, media initiatives launched Operation Retuit (Operation Retweet) which publishes short videos on social media compiling verified news about Venezuela. The videos are hosted by two AI avatars “La Chama” (The Girl) and “El Pana” (The Dude) allowing Venezuelan journalists to continue reporting while protecting their identity to avoid persecution.
Operation Retweet videos are published on social media platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), given that traditional media such as TV, radio and major newspapers in Venezuela are under some form of government control.
On August 8, Maduro ordered a 10-day ban on social media platform X, a vital part of the country’s news ecosystem. As the ban continues, social media platforms continue to be crucial for independent media to spread information and fight censorship.
Episodes of Operation Retweet released so far include information about the government’s crackdown on post-election protests that have claimed 23 lives and led to over 1,000 arrests. Episodes have also covered the government’s ban on X (formerly Twitter) and the recent passage by the National Assembly of a law that would regulate NGOs and require them to disclose information about their members, donors and assets.
Venezuela Vota is a media initiative created in the run-up to the July 28 elections, where over a dozen independent media outlets have collaborated to publish intersectional stories, protecting the individual risks journalists face and increasing audience reach. Similarly, #LaHoraDeVenezuela – coordinated by the non-profit journalism initiative Connectas – aims to provide more rigorous reporting on Venezuela.
By using artificial intelligence technologies in their reporting – a feat only possible by fostering cooperation – independent media in Venezuela have continued to overcome government-imposed censorship.
