State Terrorism: Spying on Citizens

by Daniela Gonzalez

Spying in Venezuela is a SERIOUS threat to citizens, especially for those related to the democratic forces.

In order to keep the people controlled by force under a growing crisis and with the ghost of hyperinflation stalking at a distance (again), Venezuelans have faced a threat that few other societies have defied.

Surveillance as a Tool of Repression

In Venezuela, the line between national security and state terrorism has blurred dangerously and practically disappeared. What was once the domain of intelligence agencies has now become a widespread apparatus of control, intimidation, and repression.

Espionage technologies—many of them imported, others developed locally—are being weaponized against the population, especially in the wake of the disputed July 28th, 2024, elections.

The goal is clear: to instill fear, silence dissent, and maintain authoritarian control. This article explores six key methods used to surveil and intimidate Venezuelan citizens, and offers practical strategies for digital self-defense.

Call Interception: Listening to a Nation

One of the most alarming revelations came from Telefónica de España, the parent company of Movistar Venezuela, which admitted that over 1.5 million phone calls had been intercepted in the country. This staggering number highlights the scale of surveillance being conducted. But Movistar is not alone. The state-owned CANTV and Movilnet, as well as the privately operated Digitel, operate without oversight from any international parent company. This lack of accountability allows for unchecked access to user data.

Authorities can intercept calls, read SMS messages, and triangulate user locations with ease. These capabilities are not used to combat crime or protect citizens—they are deployed to monitor, intimidate, and punish those who dare to speak out. The infrastructure of these telecom companies has become a silent accomplice in the machinery of state terror.

Official Apps: Trojan Horses in Disguise

Another insidious method of surveillance is through government-endorsed applications. VenApp, promoted as a citizen service platform, collects user location and opinions under the guise of improving public services. Even more concerning is the suggestion made on national television to use WeChat, the Chinese messaging app known for its deep integration with the Chinese government.

WeChat is contractually obligated to share user data with Chinese authorities, and its use in Venezuela raises serious concerns about foreign collaboration in domestic surveillance. These apps are not neutral tools—they are digital informants, feeding data into a system designed to suppress dissent.

Social Media Monitoring: The Digital Dragnet

Venezuela’s intelligence services have expanded their reach into social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Through sophisticated monitoring systems, they identify and detain dissidents seemingly at random. Posts criticizing the government, sharing protest information, or even expressing frustration can trigger investigations or arrests. (Do a search about CESPPA, won’t post links to avoid being targeted)

This digital dragnet has created a climate of fear online. Citizens self-censor, delete posts, and avoid political discourse. Clearly, not because they lack opinions, but because they fear the consequences of expressing them. The internet, once a space for free expression, has become another battlefield in the struggle for civil liberties.

IMSI Catchers: Invisible Eyes on the Streets

IMSI Catchers are surveillance devices that mimic cell towers, tricking nearby phones into connecting and revealing their data. These devices can intercept calls, read SIM card information, and pinpoint user locations. In Caracas alone, The Washington Post reported the presence of at least 33 fake antennas, strategically placed near protected zones, NGOs, and media outlets.

Some IMSI Catchers are hidden in vehicles, others disguised as regular cell towers. Their presence is invisible to the average citizen, but their impact is profound. They allow authorities to track movements, intercept communications, and build profiles of individuals—all without consent or legal oversight.

Cellebrite: Total Phone Extraction in Seconds

Cellebrite is a powerful forensic tool that can extract the entire contents of a smartphone in seconds, without needing passwords or authentication. All it requires is physical access to the device. In Venezuela, this technology has been used at checkpoints and during arbitrary detentions to copy messages, photos, contacts, and browsing history.

The use of Cellebrite bypasses legal protections and violates privacy rights. It turns every phone into a potential evidence locker, even if no crime has been committed. The mere possession of politically sensitive content can lead to harassment or imprisonment.

Forced Phone Inspections: Illegal but Routine

Despite being illegal, forced phone inspections have become routine at roadblocks and security checkpoints. Officers demand access to devices, scroll through messages, and search for incriminating content. Refusing to comply can result in detention or worse.

These inspections are not isolated incidents—they are part of a broader strategy to intimidate and control. They send a clear message: your phone is not yours, your privacy is not guaranteed, and your silence is expected.

Post-Election Crackdown: Surveillance Intensifies

The fraudulent elections of July 28, 2024, marked a turning point. Surveillance efforts intensified, targeting activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens alike. The goal is not just to gather information—it is to create a climate of fear, where people hesitate to speak, move, or organize.

This is state terrorism in digital form. It does not rely on bombs or bullets, but on data, algorithms, and psychological pressure. It is silent, pervasive, and deeply effective.

But these are not the only methods.

Infiltration in Academia: The Silent Observers

The infiltration of Venezuelan universities by government-affiliated operatives has become a deeply rooted strategy of control. These individuals, posing as students and sometimes as employees (janitors, secretaries), exhibit a distinct behavioral pattern that sets them apart: they are unusually quiet, rarely participate in class discussions, and tend to leave the classroom abruptly—often just before or after politically sensitive topics are addressed. Their silence is not due to disinterest, but strategic observation. Over time, it becomes evident that these “students” are not there to learn, but to report.

Professors who engage in critical analysis of the government, discuss human rights, or encourage civic debate often find themselves under scrutiny. Reports are filed against them, sometimes anonymously, leading to disciplinary actions, interrogations, or even dismissal. The academic environment, once a bastion of free thought, is now riddled with fear and mistrust.

This pattern has repeated itself across multiple institutions, confirming that the infiltration is not isolated—it is systemic. Universities, traditionally centers of intellectual resistance, have been penetrated to their core. The presence of these silent informants undermines the very essence of education, turning classrooms into monitored zones where freedom of expression is not just discouraged—it is punished.

Digital Self-Defense: Strategies for Survival

In this hostile environment, digital self-defense is not optional—it is essential. Here are practical steps citizens can take to protect themselves:

1. Use Secure Messaging Apps: WhatsApp and Signal offer end-to-end encryption, making it nearly impossible for third parties to intercept messages. On WhatsApp, enable two-step verification and avoid unencrypted backups.
2. Use VPNs: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) mask your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic, adding a layer of protection when accessing sensitive websites or communicating online.
3. Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in Sensitive Areas: Airports, military zones, and protest sites are hotspots for surveillance. Turning off wireless connections reduces the risk of being tracked or hacked.
4. Avoid Protest Zones: While civic participation is vital, physical presence in protest areas can expose individuals to surveillance and arbitrary detention. If attending, minimize digital footprints.
5. Practice Digital Hygiene: Regularly clear browsing history, avoid storing sensitive content on your device, and be cautious about app permissions.
6. Use Common Sense: The final layer of protection is behavioral. Think before posting, avoid sharing personal details, and be mindful of who you communicate with and how.

However, there are countermeasures you can use.

Using small, concealed recording devices like this one for video, or this one with a neutral form factor that makes it really concealed, as most people won’t even know what it is.

In order to search for hidden cameras you have this gadget (because these days you never know if you are being set up), and interestingly, in the illegal procedure to kidnap in her own home to a leader of the democratic forces, one of these devices was used to identify the perpetrators.

This tiny camera can be installed in any place, like inside a car, house, or wherever else you may need. Many of the worst street fights back in 2014, where NGs massacred civilians, were caught on film (just check YT or some other platform) thanks to devices like these binoculars.

Resistance Through Awareness

Espionage in Venezuela is no longer a covert operation—it is a public policy to keep working the mechanisms of state-sponsored (and owned) narco-terrorism. It is used not to protect citizens, but to control them. The methods are sophisticated, but the goal is simple: silence dissent and maintain power.

Yet, awareness is resistance. By understanding the tools of surveillance and adopting strategies to counter them, citizens can reclaim a measure of autonomy. In a country where even silence is monitored, knowledge becomes a form of rebellion.

The fight for privacy is the fight for freedom. And in Venezuela, that fight is far from over.

I want to make a special call to contribute to the sponsorship for our writers living in Venezuela. We are heading towards real hard times (once again), and the uncertainty is making basic goods rise every single day. There is no employment, and day after day the struggle grows.

If you are willing to do so, please contact the editor or read the footnote of their articles.

Thanks, and God bless.

Dani

About Daniela

Daniela Gonzalez is a student of history at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas.

The post State Terrorism: Spying on Citizens appeared first on The Organic Prepper.