Several news websites remain offline.

Venezuela unblocks 10 media but keeps 194 domains blocked. Ilustración cibercuba.com

The map of censorship that persists in Venezuela despite Conatel’s order.

By Efecto Cocuyo

HAVANA TIMES – Following the official announcement by the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) on Thursday, September 17, ordering internet providers to restore access to a group of news websites, at least a dozen media outlets partially regained availability in Venezuela. However, dozens of news sites and nearly 190 domains in total remain blocked, according to measurements by digital rights organizations.

The decision came as the second round of talks began between the interim government headed by Delcy Rodriguez and a sector of the opposition backed by the United States, aimed at a political transition. The Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence had recommended removing restrictions on media domains to foster an environment of greater communication, transparency, and pluralism. Conatel notified internet providers (Cantv, Movistar, Digitel, Inter, and NetUno) to restore access to several websites.

Organizations such as VE Sin Filtro verified that between 10 and 14 news sites became accessible again through at least one provider. Those unblocked include Efecto Cocuyo, El Pitazo, Runrunes, Crónica Uno, Caraota Digital, El Estímulo, Monitoreamos, AlbertoNews, El Carabobeño, El Tiempo, Foco Informativo, Alnavío, the Colombian magazine Semana, and the Spanish news agency EFE. Access is not uniform: it varies by provider and, in some cases, remains intermittent.

Media Outlets That Remain Restricted

Despite the progress, VE Sin Filtro recorded around 79 news-related domains that remain blocked, out of a total of approximately 188 to 194 websites that are inaccessible in the country (including NGOs, digital platforms, and political initiatives). Among the major media outlets that still lack full access are:

• El Nacional
• La Patilla
• Tal Cual (with the highest level of restriction, approaching 100% in some measurements)
• VPItv
• NTN24 (with reports of intermittent access)
• Armando.info
• Analítica
• Infobae
• Maduradas
• Noticiero Digital
• La Gran Aldea

Measurements by Espacio Público, based on data from the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), indicate that the blocking rate for some of these sites actually worsened compared with the previous day.

Reactions and Demands

Journalists’ associations and human rights organizations described the measure as a necessary but insufficient and selective step. IPYS Venezuela said that lifting the blocks “is a necessary step, but not enough,” and called for accountability, transparency, and guarantees of non-repetition, noting that the restrictions had been imposed for years by both Cantv and private providers.

The National Association of Journalists and the National Union of Press Workers called for the complete unblocking of all websites, publication of the full list of sites whose access has been restored, and a review of laws that they say restrict journalistic activity. VE Sin Filtro insisted that “censorship remains a state policy” and called for an end to all blocking, including restrictions on NGOs, communication platforms, and VPNs.

The United States attributed the progress to its policy toward Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro in January, as part of a plan for stabilization, recovery, and democratic transition. Meanwhile, actual access to the unblocked media outlets continues to depend on each user’s internet provider, and dozens of independent news websites remain beyond the reach of most Venezuelans without the use of circumvention tools.

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