Venezuela blocks X access in the wake of social media spat with CEO Elon Musk

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has blocked his country’s access to X while accusing CEO Elon Musk of using the platform to promote hatred.

The 10-day ban comes in the wake of the country’s disputed presidential election, held on July 28.

Journalists in Caracas found that by Thursday night posts had stopped loading on X, formerly known as Twitter, on two private telephone services and state-owned Movilnet.

The block follows descriptions by Mr Musk on the social media platform that described the Venezuelan leader as a “dictator” and a “clown”.\

In a speech to pro-government groups, Mr Maduto said: “Elon Musk is the owner of X and has violated all the rules of the social network itself.”

He added that Mr Musk “has incited hatred” with his comments.

The Venezuelan leader also accused his opponents of using X to cause political unrest in the wake of his re-election.

Mr Maduro told pro-government crowds, who had gathered in Caracas to march on behalf of the president,  that he had signed a resolution “with the proposal made by Conatel, the National Telecommunications Commission, which has decided to remove the social network X from circulation in Venezuela for 10 days so that they can present their documents.”

He added: “X out for 10 days! Elon Musk out!”

The Venezuelan leader did not provide further detail about the processes the telecommunications commission had taken against X.

The president’s announcement came after Mr Maduro and Mr Musk had exchanged heated accusations online about the July 28 poll.

Electoral authorities declared Mr Maduro the winner but have yet to produce voting tallies.

Meanwhile, the opposition claims to have collected records from more than 80% of the 30,000 electronic voting machines nationwide showing the winner was their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez.

Mr Musk took to X to accuse the self-proclaimed socialist leader of  “great electoral fraud.”

“Shame on the dictator Maduro,” Mr Musk said in a post on Monday.

The two have been embroiled in an online spat in recent weeks, with Mr Maduro challenging Mr Musk to a fistfight in a public address.

On July 31, the Tesla CEO accepted the Venezuelan leader’s challenge.

“I accept,” Mr Musk tweeted in response, before adding in a reply to another user on X: “He will chicken out.”

Since the election, Mr Maduro has expressed the need to “regulate” social networks in Venezuela.

X’s press office did not immediately respond to an email from AP requesting comment.