Noticiero Digital
Encyclopedia
Noticiero Digital is a Venezuela
n news and opinion site headquartered in Caracas
, described by Reporters Without Borders
as "a popular website that is critical of President Hugo Chávez
". According to its former editor, Roger Santodomingo, Noticiero Digital became popular after the government of Venezuela decided not to renew the broadcast license of cable television network RCTV
, saying: "It has become [a] forum for comment that is virtually out of its own management's control because of its totally open nature." As of June 2007, it had 45,000 registered users.
and Globovision
, were accused of being employed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) to destabilize the Chávez government. The accusations were initially made by television show host Mario Silva, who claimed that the U.S. government funded the writers; the "pro-government newspaper" Diario VEA
later stated that the writers were receiving CIA funding, though they deny the accusations. Three days later, attorney and writer Eva Golinger
showed records that she alleges show the journalists had received "money in 2003 under specialization courses and cultural exchanges financed by several international cooperation agencies of the United States". Golinger states that the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) has been funding anti-Chavez activists opposed to President Chávez to facilitate internet advocacy and destabilize Venezuela.
The journalists deny receiving funding from the CIA. The International Freedom of Expression eXchange
(IFEX) says "there is no evidence of links between international cooperation agencies and the CIA"; one of the accused journalists participated in a cultural exchange program called "Investigative Journalism" and another attended a program called "The role of social communication media in democracy".
Santodomingo resigned in July 2007 after purported attacks and smears against him, and threats against his son, who was seven years old at the time. A message calling Santodomingo a "traitor to his country" was found in his son's school report card, leading Santodomingo to ask for protection for his son from the National Council for Children's Rights. A few days following his resignation, his car exploded and was destroyed outside his home.
The magazine Variety
reported that Noticiero Digital responded that the reports "were posted by unauthorized bloggers and suspect that they were planted by the government". According to Venezuela's El Universal
, Noticiero Digital responded to the charges by saying that "messages in the forum are the opinions and expressions of its authors and not of the administrators or moderators" and that the two posts mentioning assassinations had been removed within hours and the users posting them permanently suspended.
The government was accused in the media of attempting to regulate the internet and a Reporters Without Borders
spokesperson said the Noticiero Digital case was a "pretext for the government to legitimize the regulation of [the Internet]". Chávez inaugurated 24 community Internet centers, and, according to Business Week accused the opposition of spreading "lies about increased online censorship", saying "There’s a story around the world that I want to eliminate Internet, no, we want to transfer power and knowledge to the people through Internet. There have been counter revolutions and coups online. We need to use these tools to wage the Internet war, the online battle."
In support of Chávez, "who questioned the news website Noticiero Digital for spreading false information about the alleged death of the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Diosdado Cabello, and pro-government TV anchor Mario Silva", the National Assembly of Venezuela
appointed a committee to investigate webmasters who commit crimes, but denied plans to regulate the internet.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n news and opinion site headquartered in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, described by Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
as "a popular website that is critical of President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
". According to its former editor, Roger Santodomingo, Noticiero Digital became popular after the government of Venezuela decided not to renew the broadcast license of cable television network RCTV
RCTV
Radio Caracas Televisión Internacional is a Venezuelan cable television network headquartered in the Caracas neighborhood of Quinta Crespo. It was sometimes referred to as the Canal de Bárcenas. Owned by Empresas 1BC, RCTV Internacional was inaugurated as Radio Caracas Televisión on 15 November...
, saying: "It has become [a] forum for comment that is virtually out of its own management's control because of its totally open nature." As of June 2007, it had 45,000 registered users.
Funding accusations
In May 2007, Noticiero Digital journalists, along with colleagues from RCTVRCTV
Radio Caracas Televisión Internacional is a Venezuelan cable television network headquartered in the Caracas neighborhood of Quinta Crespo. It was sometimes referred to as the Canal de Bárcenas. Owned by Empresas 1BC, RCTV Internacional was inaugurated as Radio Caracas Televisión on 15 November...
and Globovision
Globovisión
Globovisión is a 24-hour television news network in Venezuela. It broadcasts over-the-air in Caracas, Aragua, Carabobo and Zulia on UHF channel 33. Globovisión is seen in the rest of Venezuela on cable or satellite and worldwide from their website...
, were accused of being employed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
(CIA) to destabilize the Chávez government. The accusations were initially made by television show host Mario Silva, who claimed that the U.S. government funded the writers; the "pro-government newspaper" Diario VEA
Diario VEA
Diario VEA is a daily newspaper in Venezuela. It was founded in Caracas in 2003. It is owned by the government. Its slogan is Comprometidos con Venezuela . Its director is Guillermo García Ponce...
later stated that the writers were receiving CIA funding, though they deny the accusations. Three days later, attorney and writer Eva Golinger
Eva Golinger
Eva Golinger is a Venezuelan-American attorney and editor of the Correo del Orinoco International, a web- and print-based newspaper which is financially backed by the Venezuelan government....
showed records that she alleges show the journalists had received "money in 2003 under specialization courses and cultural exchanges financed by several international cooperation agencies of the United States". Golinger states that the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
(USAID) has been funding anti-Chavez activists opposed to President Chávez to facilitate internet advocacy and destabilize Venezuela.
The journalists deny receiving funding from the CIA. The International Freedom of Expression eXchange
International Freedom of Expression Exchange
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
(IFEX) says "there is no evidence of links between international cooperation agencies and the CIA"; one of the accused journalists participated in a cultural exchange program called "Investigative Journalism" and another attended a program called "The role of social communication media in democracy".
Editor resigns
In May 2007, Venezuela's Attorney General accused Noticiero Digital of "attempting to instigate the assassination of the president and of receiving funding from the US State Department to destabilize the government". Santodomingo, the former editor, said that "the investigation has been prompted by his publication of an opinion poll in which the option of assassinating President Hugo Chávez was offered as a possible response to the question: 'What is the way out of this crisis?' The option received 30 percent of the votes."Santodomingo resigned in July 2007 after purported attacks and smears against him, and threats against his son, who was seven years old at the time. A message calling Santodomingo a "traitor to his country" was found in his son's school report card, leading Santodomingo to ask for protection for his son from the National Council for Children's Rights. A few days following his resignation, his car exploded and was destroyed outside his home.
Forum posts
In March 2010, Chávez accused Noticiero Digital forums of falsely publishing that two of Chávez's political allies had been assassinated. Calling the publication a crime, Chávez called for restrictions on speech over the Internet, and for Venezuela's attorney general to take action against Noticiero Digital. Chávez said: "The Internet can't be something free where anything can be done and said. No, every country has to impose its rules and regulations."The magazine Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
reported that Noticiero Digital responded that the reports "were posted by unauthorized bloggers and suspect that they were planted by the government". According to Venezuela's El Universal
El Universal (Caracas)
El Universal is a major Venezuelan newspaper, headquartered in Caracas with an average daily circulation of about 150,000. The online version carries news, politics, sports, economy and more....
, Noticiero Digital responded to the charges by saying that "messages in the forum are the opinions and expressions of its authors and not of the administrators or moderators" and that the two posts mentioning assassinations had been removed within hours and the users posting them permanently suspended.
The government was accused in the media of attempting to regulate the internet and a Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
spokesperson said the Noticiero Digital case was a "pretext for the government to legitimize the regulation of [the Internet]". Chávez inaugurated 24 community Internet centers, and, according to Business Week accused the opposition of spreading "lies about increased online censorship", saying "There’s a story around the world that I want to eliminate Internet, no, we want to transfer power and knowledge to the people through Internet. There have been counter revolutions and coups online. We need to use these tools to wage the Internet war, the online battle."
In support of Chávez, "who questioned the news website Noticiero Digital for spreading false information about the alleged death of the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Diosdado Cabello, and pro-government TV anchor Mario Silva", the National Assembly of Venezuela
National Assembly of Venezuela
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the Venezuelan government. It is a unicameral body made up of a variable number of members, who are elected by "universal, direct, personal, and secret" vote partly by direct election in state-based voting districts, and partly on a state-based...
appointed a committee to investigate webmasters who commit crimes, but denied plans to regulate the internet.