Tradecraft in Venezuela is changing under Nicolás Maduro’s recent crackdown on opposition leaders and common citizens. Individuals involved in street protests and democratic activism are quickly developing grassroots capacities in operational security and secured communications to avoid being kidnapped or disappeared by the security apparatus. (Source)
Twitter and WhatsApp have been unofficially outlawed in the country after the electoral fraud and subsequent protests, prompting citizens to seek refuge in encrypted applications or private networks. Countermeasures like blurring peoples faces from social media and cleaning mobiles devices before going out are becoming a general tactic among the population. (Source)
The “Operation Knock Knock” of the Venezuelan Intelligence Community (DGCIM/ SEBIN/ DAET) is the main threat behind the changes in trademark among the population. Operatives loyal to Maduro are using screenshots of critical publications in social media to abduct and imprison individuals under charges of terrorism. (Source)
Key Judgement 1. Venezuelan population involved in democratic activism will highly likely evolve their communications tradecraft to avoid political repression.
Key Judgement 2. Maduro’s information blackout and network blockades in Venezuela are unlike to affect opposition dynamics and public unrest.
Key Judgement 3. There is a realistic probability that Operation “Operation Knock Knock” of the Venezuelan Intelligence Community will become unsustainable over time.
