Venezuela restricts access to TikTok, leading citizens to use VPNs.
Restrictions are imposed because TikTok failed to designate a local representative.
In Venezuela, there has been a notable increase in the use of VPN services, particularly in response to the access restriction to TikTok imposed by the authorities. According to Proton VPN, registrations in the country have grown by 350% to date, and the usage continues to rise. This increase occurs in a context where users experience daily disruptions of several hours in accessing the Chinese video platform, as reported by the internet observatory NetBlocks.
The restriction on TikTok is due to the popular app failing to meet an eight-day deadline ordered by the Supreme Court of Venezuela, which demanded the appointment of a local representative. This is not the first time the country has taken similar measures against social media apps; for example, in August, President Nicolás Maduro ordered a ten-day ban on X following a public disagreement with Elon Musk and promoted a boycott against WhatsApp, claiming that these platforms incited violence and political discontent.
The blockage also occurred in the context of protests that arose at the end of July, following the presidential elections, where multiple websites were reported as inaccessible. Using a VPN allows users to encrypt their internet connections and hide their real location, which has become essential for evading the current restrictions in Venezuela. A spokesperson for Proton mentioned that the app has become a valuable resource for those seeking reliable information during these difficult times.
During the summer, the use of Proton VPN in the country increased an astonishing 51,000% from the baseline, becoming the most downloaded app on Google Play. However, as more citizens opted for these tools, the authorities began to focus on controlling the use of VPNs, which created difficulties for some users in accessing their applications just before the elections. In response, Proton VPN expanded its server capacity to better meet the needs of Venezuelans.
The TikTok ban also followed a $10 million fine imposed on the social network for failing to implement measures to prevent the spread of viral challenges that allegedly led to the deaths of three children in Venezuela. Judge Tania D’Amelio did not explain how the parent company, ByteDance, is expected to comply with the fine, although TikTok has been asked to establish an office in the country to ensure that shared content complies with local legislation.
