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Venezuelan Ministry Operates Covert Propaganda Account on X Despite Platform Ban
Venezuela’s Ministry of People’s Power for Communication and Information (Mippci) has secretly repurposed its official X account into what appears to be an independent information hub, continuing to spread government propaganda despite the platform being officially blocked in the country since August 2024.
An investigation has revealed that the account @LoQSeDic (“Lo que se dice,” or “what’s being said” in Spanish) is actually the former @Mippcivzla account operating under a new identity. The account, which boasts over 571,000 followers, describes itself as providing “the pulse of national and international events” and uses casual Venezuelan slang like “manao” (bro) to appear more relatable.
The account change was confirmed through digital forensic analysis using tools like TweetHunter and Twitonomy, which verified that both @LoQSeDic and the former @Mippcivzla share the identical X ID: 839299289792774144. The account was originally created on March 8, 2017.
This transformation comes after the Nicolás Maduro government officially blocked X in Venezuela in August 2024, claiming the platform had “violated” usage policies by “inciting hatred, fascism, civil war, death, and confrontation among Venezuelans.” The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), which falls under Mippci’s authority, implemented the ban.
The ministry’s final post as @Mippcivzla, archived in the Wayback Machine and shared through its Telegram channel on August 9, 2024, promoted the hashtag #HastaProntoX (#SeeYouLaterX), signaling that official accounts would stop publishing content on the platform. This announcement coincided with Conatel’s proposal for an initial 10-day suspension of X usage.
Further evidence connecting the two accounts includes numerous replies from users addressing the account as Mippci or referencing the ministry directly in comments on posts that now appear under the @LoQSeDic handle. These interactions clearly demonstrate the account’s previous identity.
In what appears to be an attempt to obscure this connection, many posts from the second half of 2024 have been deleted. However, approximately 355,000 tweets from the @Mippcivzla era remain accessible. These include posts featuring various propaganda hashtags that were previously identified as part of official government disinformation campaigns.
This case represents the second discovered instance in a week of Venezuelan government-linked accounts changing their handles to spread covert propaganda supporting the Maduro regime. The first was the troll account “Dracarys” (@UnleashDracarys), reportedly connected to instructors from “Escuela Influye,” a content creator training program established by Mippci and operated by staff from its Digital Media Directorate.
The practice violates X’s Authenticity Policy, which prohibits users from “creating, operating, or mass-registering accounts that are not legitimate, genuine, and transparent about their origin, identity, and popularity.” The policy specifically forbids using “false identities to engage in disruptive or deceptive behavior,” including misleading profile information designed to deceive users.
This strategy of leveraging an established follower base to disseminate propaganda underscores the evolving tactics of the Venezuelan government’s information operations, particularly in digital spaces where they’ve officially withdrawn but continue to maintain influence covertly.
Journalism in Venezuela continues to face significant challenges, with numerous legal instruments designed to restrict speech, including laws against “hatred,” “fascism,” and “blockade.” These findings come from journalists working within these constraints to document the government’s information manipulation tactics.
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13 Comments
It’s disappointing, but not surprising, to see the Venezuelan government circumventing the X platform ban to continue its propaganda efforts. We need to be vigilant about identifying and countering state-sponsored disinformation.
This seems to be a common tactic for state-backed media outlets – rebranding and operating covertly to bypass platform restrictions. It’s important to be vigilant about identifying these propaganda efforts.
You’re right, it’s crucial that we stay informed about these kinds of propaganda tactics. Fact-checking and media literacy are so important in the digital age.
This is a classic case of an authoritarian regime trying to bypass social media restrictions to spread its message. I hope independent journalists and fact-checkers are closely monitoring this account and its activities.
Absolutely. It’s crucial that we maintain a critical eye and don’t let these kinds of propaganda efforts go unchecked. Transparency and accountability are key.
This is a worrying example of how authoritarian regimes will go to great lengths to control the narrative and bypass restrictions on their propaganda efforts. We need to be vigilant in identifying and calling out these tactics.
Absolutely. Independent media and fact-checkers play a crucial role in exposing and countering state-sponsored disinformation campaigns like this one. It’s a constant battle, but one that’s essential for maintaining a healthy democracy.
This is a worrying development that highlights the lengths authoritarian regimes will go to in order to control the narrative and bypass restrictions on their propaganda. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant and continue to call out these tactics.
The Venezuelan government’s rebranding of its X account as a news outlet is a concerning development. It’s important to closely scrutinize the content and sources of information being shared on this account.
The Venezuelan government’s move to rebrand its X account as an independent news outlet is a concerning example of how authoritarian regimes try to manipulate public discourse. I wonder what other methods they’re using.
Interesting that the Venezuelan government is continuing its propaganda efforts despite the X platform ban. I wonder what other tactics they’re using to spread their message within the country.
It’s concerning to see authoritarian regimes finding ways around social media bans to push their narratives. I hope independent media can counter this disinformation effectively.
The Venezuelan government’s attempt to rebrand its X account as a news outlet is a clear attempt to circumvent the platform’s ban and continue its propaganda efforts. This is a concerning development that deserves close scrutiny.