Venezuelan opposition targeted by internet censors

CARACAS, Venezuela – Opposition leader Juan Guaido’s calls for Venezuelans to abandon Nicolas Maduro’s government are booming across the world outside, but the self-declared interim president is having a harder time delivering his message at home.

Watchdog groups in Venezuela and abroad say Guaido’s efforts to reach citizens via the internet have been hindered by the dominant provider — state-run CANTV. That’s in a country where critical newspapers and broadcast media already have been muzzled.

Guaido proclaimed himself interim president on Jan. 23 and monitoring groups say CANTV has blocked access to social media sites at least four times since then at politically sensitive moments.