Maduro orders 10-day ban on Elon Musk’s X in Venezuela after feud with billionaire

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has imposed a 10-day ban on the social networking platform X, previously known as Twitter, following a public feud with its owner, Elon Musk. In a speech Maduro accused Musk of violating Venezuelan laws by using the platform to incite “hatred, fascism, civil war, death, and confrontations among Venezuelans.”

Maduro’s decree mandates the Venezuelan telecommunications regulator, Conatel, to restrict access to X. The ban is meant to last for 10 days, giving X a chance to respond. The internet monitoring organization NetBlocks has confirmed the restriction, reporting that several of Venezuela’s internet service providers have already limited or completely cut off access to the platform.

The feud between Maduro and Musk escalated when Musk accused Maduro of election fraud on X, calling him a “dictator.” In response, Maduro challenged Musk to a physical confrontation on national television, saying, “Elon Musk, I’m ready. I’m not afraid of you … Let’s fight, wherever you want.” Musk replied to a post with footage of Maduro’s comments, stating, “I accept.”

The ban has stirred concerns about freedom of speech and access to information in Venezuela, as citizens find themselves unable to use X during this period. It remains to be seen how X will respond to the Venezuelan government’s actions and whether this conflict will escalate further.