Venezuela bans media from publishing videos of mob killings

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s Supreme Court says news media can no longer publish videos of the mob killings that have become increasingly common in the crime-ridden South American country.

The ruling issued Wednesday says that the videos of people beating, burning and stripping naked accused thieves in the street create social anxiety, and should not be posted by media outlets.

The court said the media has a right to inform the public, but not to sow uncertainty by publishing upsetting videos.

The country has seen dozens of cases of mob justice this year as faith in the justice system collapses.

Critics of the country’s socialist administration accuse the court of being under the sway of President Nicolas Maduro. It has never ruled against the administration.