CARACAS — In a definitive shift for digital freedom, access to the social media platform X was restored across Venezuela on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The reversal ends a 17-month blockade imposed by the now-deposed Nicolás Maduro, who shuttered the service following a high-profile dispute with Elon Musk during the 2024 election crisis.
A New Narrative: From Blockade to “Unity”
The unblocking serves as one of the first major administrative acts under Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed leadership following Maduro’s recent capture by U.S. forces.
- The Interim Stance: Rodríguez immediately utilized the platform to signal a policy pivot, updating her profile to “Acting President” and issuing a call for national reconciliation. Her inaugural posts focused on “peace and the restoration of institutional order.”
- The Maduro Account: In a surreal digital juxtaposition, the official account of Nicolás Maduro remains active while he is in U.S. custody. A recent post featured a rallying cry for his return from New York, where he currently faces federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
Strategic and Legal Implications
The restoration of X is being viewed by international observers as a “digital olive branch” toward Washington and global tech leaders. It coincides with a broader effort by the interim government to stabilize the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, which has suffered from years of neglect.
| Key Fact | Status |
| Platform Access | Fully restored on major domestic ISPs (CANTV, Movistar). |
| Legal Status | Maduro remains in custody; preliminary hearings continue in Manhattan. |
| Interim Goal | Rodríguez aims to leverage digital transparency to attract foreign oil investment. |
The return of X allows Venezuelan citizens and journalists to communicate without the mandatory use of VPNs for the first time since mid-2024. While the move is welcomed by free-speech advocates, the presence of pro-Maduro messaging from the deposed leader’s account highlights the deep, ongoing ideological divide as Venezuela enters this transitional period.
