As Venezuela inches closer to full-blown dictatorship under President Nicolás Maduro, local journalists have adopted an innovative yet desperate tactic to continue their work safely: using AI avatars to report the news. This move comes in response to the escalating crackdown on the media, activists, and opposition figures following the country’s disputed election.
In the four weeks since the controversial election, AI-generated newsreaders have become the face of journalism in Venezuela, delivering daily broadcasts that cover topics Maduro’s regime deems too dangerous for human reporters. These virtual presenters are part of a broader initiative led by Connectas, a Colombia-based journalism platform, to protect journalists who risk their lives to expose the truth.
Carlos Eduardo Huertas, director of Connectas, explained that the use of AI is not just a gimmick but a necessary measure to safeguard reporters. "The persecution and growing repression our colleagues face in Venezuela have made it increasingly unsafe to appear on camera," Huertas said. The avatars, named La Chama (Bestie) and El Pana (Buddy), conceal the identities of over 100 journalists contributing to the project, dubbed Operación Retuit (Operation Retweet).
In its debut broadcast, the female avatar Bestie acknowledged their virtual nature before detailing the harsh realities under Maduro's regime, including the arrest of over 1,400 people and the deaths of at least 23 protesters. The broadcasts aim to counteract the government's narrative and provide an accurate account of the violence perpetrated by state security forces and paramilitary groups.
The need for such measures has grown as Venezuela’s media environment has deteriorated, with journalists being forced to work anonymously or in hiding. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have been blocked, and sources have become increasingly reluctant to speak out due to fear of government retaliation.
Despite the dangers, Huertas praised the Venezuelan press corps for their bravery and commitment to democracy, likening them to firefighters responding to a blaze. "There’s a fire in Venezuela, and many firefighters are present, doing the work that society needs them to," he said.
