Maduro Clashes with Elon Musk, Bans Platform X Amid Election Dispute

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has temporarily banned social media platform X—previously known as Twitter—for 10 days, accusing its owner, Elon Musk, of inciting violence and civil unrest following a contentious presidential election. Amid accusations of electoral fraud, Maduro's crackdown has resulted in widespread protests and international calls for transparency.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has escalated his ongoing conflict with social media platform X and its owner, Elon Musk, by instituting a 10-day ban on the platform in Venezuela. The move comes amid a contentious presidential election that has prompted allegations of fraud and widespread protests.

In a national address, Maduro accused Musk of using the platform to incite hate and civil unrest. 'X get out of Venezuela for 10 days!' he declared. The temporary ban marks a broader campaign against Big Tech, as Maduro also called on citizens to abandon WhatsApp, citing security concerns.

Despite Maduro's declaration of victory with 51% of the vote, opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez claims the opposition earned over 7 million votes compared to Maduro's 3.3 million. Venezuelan authorities have arrested over 2,000 individuals amid the unrest, while international actors demand a transparent publication of the election results.

(With inputs from agencies.)