Maduro's WhatsApp reveals his interest in the progress of the Aragua Train in the USA
Maduro faces criticism for connections with organized crime and seeks alternatives to the app
Amid political controversies and accusations of cyberattacks, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro faces criticism after publicly showing his WhatsApp chats. The exposure has unleashed a series of debates about the influence of the Chavista regime and the use of technologies in the country.
In a television broadcast, Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, surprised by openly showing his WhatsApp, revealing conversations involving prominent figures of Chavismo. Among the prominent contacts was Jorge Arreaza, former son-in-law of the late Hugo Chavez, who sent him a link to a news story about the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, active in the state of Colorado, USA.
The exchange of messages between Maduro and Arreaza has raised concerns about the regime's interest in the activities of the Tren de Aragua on US territory. Arreaza, although no longer in an official position, continues to inform Maduro about the movements of the drug group. The conversation highlights a connection between Venezuelan politics and organized crime, suggesting close monitoring of events by the Chavista administration.
The incident coincides with a cyberattack attributed to the group Anonymous, which compromised 25 official Venezuelan government accounts in protest of what they describe as electoral fraud and violations of democratic rights. In response, Maduro has urged his followers to abandon WhatsApp, calling it a tool used by "fascist groups" to threaten Venezuela. The president announced his intention to eliminate the application and migrate his communications to platforms such as Telegram and WeChat.
Amid these revelations, concerns arise over the use of Venapp, an application used by the regime to control and monitor the population. During recent protests against the government, the app has been used to identify and harass protesters and opponents, leading Anonymous to expose officials involved in these acts of repression.
In an environment of growing political and social uncertainty, the future of digital communications in Venezuela is hanging in the balance, with significant implications for the population and the regime.