Maduro warns Venezuelan dissidents of 'tun-tun operations', calls against use of WhatsApp

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro urged his supporters to remove WhatsApp from their devices and accused the Meta-owned messaging app is being exploited by "fascists" to instigate violence. Maduro's comment came as a fervent appeal under the rain at a rally organised by the ruling party’s youth branch.

Maduro called for a "voluntary, progressive, and radical withdrawal" from WhatsApp. The Venezuelan president called for a gradual switch to alternative platforms such as Telegram and the Chinese messaging app WeChat.

"Through WhatsApp, they are threatening the military family, the police, the street leaders, the community, everyone who doesn’t declare themselves in favor of fascism," Maduro stated.

He also criticised TikTok and Instagram for promoting "hate," promising regulatory measures.

At the youth rally, Maduro referred to the government’s security operation "Tun-Tun," named after the "knock-knock" sound on doors. "Knock, knock, who’s there?" he sang to the tune of a popular Christmas song, adding, "People of peace. Don’t be a crying baby, you’ll go to Tocoron." Tocoron, a maximum-security prison.

The latest stance against social media platforms comes amid a stringent crackdown by Maduro’s regime following his self-proclaimed victory in the presidential election. Maduro has consistently labeled opposition leader María Corina Machado and her proxy candidate Edmundo González as "fascists".

Also watch |Anti-Maduro protests in Venezuela: Clashes and violence over election results

Maduro has accused Machado of instigating protests ignited by allegations of electoral fraud.

In response to the controversy, Maduro has requested Venezuela’s high court to review the election results.

On Monday (August 5), Venezuela's head of the electoral authority, Elvis Amoroso, handed over the electoral documentation during a state television broadcast.

The specifics of the documents, particularly whether they contained detailed tabulations of results as disclosed by the opposition, remain undisclosed.

(With inputs from agencies)