Venezuela's Authorities Launch Investigation into Hate via Messaging Apps

Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) is investigating people who have sent hate messages and threats via WhatsApp, announced the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, on Monday.

Conatel is reportedly carrying out a legal–administrative investigation against people who have posted threats on WhatsApp, a platform accused of spreading hate messages, particularly after the presidential elections held in Venezuela last Sunday, July 28.

The Venezuelan president noted that “thousands of messages have been sent on WhatsApp calling for the killing of President Maduro, ordering the killing of Chavistas, calling for the killing of the people.” Analysts allege that this a deliberate strategy that attempts to neutralize the mass mobilization of Chavistas that has been key in countering the violent protests and attacks promoted and waged by the US-backed opposition and its right-wing supporters.

In this regard, President Maduro warned that most of the phones that were sending the threat messages used country codes from Colombia, Peru, Chile, and the United States.

He added that those who used Venezuelan phones to send messages with threats “will be subject to the law, justice, order, and peace.”

The Venezuelan president therefore reiterated his call to report citizens who have threatened other citizens because of their political preference. He also said that this app serves as a spy center to provide information to the United States.

“WhatsApp belongs to the enemies of Venezuela, to the imperialism of the world. They know everything you write,” he said.

Regarding the use of WhatsApp in Venezuela, the head of state clarified that he did not order the blocking of the app, but that he trusts in “the conscience of each and every Venezuelan” to make the decision to uninstall this messaging service.

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President Maduro added that with alternative applications such as Telegram and Wechat, people can also communicate securily. He subsequently instructed the Minister for Communication and Information, Freddy Ñáñez, to initiate training courses for the use of these other platforms.

Finally, President Maduro confirmed that the coup against Venezuela is being carried out on social media, to divide and fill people with hatred, and that it is led by criminal gangs.

“Our battle is not with swords and spears … it is with conscience, with truth, with justice, with the law, with the Constitution,” he added.

(RedRadioVE) by Ana Perdigón with Orinoco Tribune content

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

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