Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, known for his strict control over the media in his country, has accused the Chinese social media platform TikTok of censoring him during a live broadcast on Saturday. According to Maduro, his account was suspended by TikTok during a live transmission of the inauguration of an avenue in the state of Anzoátegui.
During the Saturday event, Maduro claimed that global social media platforms are conspiring against him and his regime as part of an international “censorship” campaign. However, he has not provided any evidence to substantiate his accusations, and his TikTok account remains active at press time.
Maduro’s accusations were broadcast by state-owned media, and he used the occasion to reiterate his efforts to rebrand himself as a more approachable and relatable leader. He has been posting content on TikTok that portrays him as a more down-to-earth individual, using the platform to distract from the growing list of human rights violations committed by his socialist regime.
The Venezuelan dictator’s rule has been marked by widespread censorship and human rights abuses, including the shutdown of more than 500 media outlets and the use of the courts to seize assets of media outlets and block access to social media and other websites.
Local anti-censorship organizations have accused the Maduro regime of using the alleged “censorship” campaign and its response as an excuse to promote regime propaganda online. The regime has also ordered its sympathizers to flood social media with pro-Maduro content in response to the alleged censorship.
The Inter-American Press Association has described Venezuela as suffering from an “almost total information blackout” due to the lack of independent written media and the silencing of local television channels and radio stations. The Maduro regime has also bought local newspapers, forcing independent outlets online where they are subject to the regime’s internet censorship.
