According to Art. 1 of the Official Gazette No. 39,880, public sector entities and state-owned enterprises, including those related to digital services such as those in the telecommunications sector, are not required to present or maintain import licenses, to pay tariffs, or to present any documents or certificates related to the regulation of customs and duties. It is reported that it creates significant competitive disadvantages for private sector entities, which are typically denied similar treatment.

The indicator "6.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 2 in Venezuela. This corresponds to "The government shut down domestic access to the Internet several times this year."

It is reported that in Venezuela there have been Internet shutdowns or connectivity disruption over whole areas for short periods of time. These events tend to be associated with significant political events. In 2019, Internet shutdowns or major disruptions to connectivity were reported to have occurred multiple times, particularly with the State Internet provider. They usually coincided with political activities by Juan Guaidó (President of the Venezuelan National Assembly and self-proclaimed President of the country). One notable instance of an Internet shutdown reportedly occurred during a meeting of Juan Guaidó and the President of Colombia at the border between their two countries.

It is reported that Venezuela blocks websites and social media. Restricted access has been reported for subscribers of state-owned Internet provider CANTV to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and YouTube platforms on a National Assembly session day of 2020. Similarly, in 2019, it was reported that Venezuela had suffered some kind of service restriction lasting for 171 hours and affecting most particularly Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Periscope. Wikipedia and the Tor network, a tool that allows users to surf the Internet anonymously, have also been reportedly blocked (in the case of Wikipedia, temporary in January 2019).

In addition, it is reported that blocks to websites covering politically sensitive news, implemented by the state-owned internet service provider (ISP), are increasingly put in place also by private ISPs. CANTV and private ISPs Movistar, Digitel, Inter, Net Uno, and Supercable, have blocked news websites Efecto Cocuyo, Crónica Uno, and EVTV.

Art, 14 of the Constitutional Law Against Hate, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance states that the dissemination of messages through social networks and electronic media that promote war or incite national, racial, ethnic, religious, political, social, ideological, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and any other kind of hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, intolerance or violence is prohibited. As a result, legal entities that manage social networks and electronic media are obliged to strictly comply with the terms of this provision and shall take appropriate measures to prevent the dissemination of these messages. To this effect, they shall immediately remove from their dissemination any propaganda or message that contravenes it.
Art. 22 of the law establishes that intermediaries that do not remove within six hours from its dissemination the messages containing war propaganda or promoting different kinds of hate speech shall be subject to sanctions ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 Tax Units (approx. USD 1,800 to USD 3,600 according to the exchange rate published in December 2022 by the Venezuelan Central Bank, subject to change). Alongside the criminal and civil liabilities, the portals disseminating the messages might be blocked. This can be interpreted as the establishment of a monitoring obligation.

It is reported that a basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Venezuela's law and jurisprudence.

In order to purchase a cell phone, a SIM card or a USB modem to access mobile broadband, the Administrative Ruling Containing the Norms Related to the Information Requirement in the Mobile Telephony Service requires customers to register their personal identification number, address, signature and fingerprints (Art. 2). This might also be connected to the general provision in the Constitution that prohibits anonymity (Art. 57).

It is reported that a basic legal framework on intermediary liability for copyright infringement is absent in Venezuela's law and jurisprudence.

Art. 7 of Administrative Ruling No. 171 establishes that the operators of mobile and fixed telephony services, through wireless networks or non-geographic numbers with nomadic voice services, must provide immediately particular information of the applicants to State security agencies that may require it during a criminal investigation. The need for a judicial order is not specified.

Art. 7 of Administrative Ruling No. 171 establishes that the operators of mobile and fixed telephony services, through wireless networks or non-geographic numbers with nomadic voice services, must keep stored in a database certain information of the applicants, with the respective security measures, while the service contract is in force and for five years after its termination. This information, which must be available in digital format and ensuring that the data is clear and legible, must be provided immediately to State security agencies that may require it during a criminal investigation.

Venezuela has not joined any agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders.

There is not a comprehensive data protection framework in Venezuela. However, there are isolated provisions in some existing laws that regulate certain aspects related to data protection, e.g., in the telecommunications sector through the Regulation for the Protection of the Rights of Users in the Provision of Telecommunications Services 2018. In addition, the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela establishes general principles that serve as a framework for the protection of information. These principles were developed by decision No. 1318 of the Supreme Court of Justice, guarding the honour, privacy, intimacy, self-image, confidentiality, and reputation of individuals.

There is not a comprehensive data protection framework in Venezuela. However, there are isolated provisions in some existing laws that regulate certain aspects related to data protection, e.g., in the telecommunications sector through the Regulation for the Protection of the Rights of Users in the Provision of Telecommunications Services 2018. In addition, the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela establishes general principles that serve as a framework for the protection of information. These principles were developed by decision No. 1318 of the Supreme Court of Justice, guarding the honour, privacy, intimacy, self-image, confidentiality, and reputation of individuals.

Art. 7 of Administrative Ruling No. 171 establishes that the operators of mobile and fixed telephony services, through wireless networks or non-geographic numbers with nomadic voice services, must keep stored in a database certain information of the applicants, with the respective security measures, while the service contract is in force and for five years after its termination. This information, which must be available in digital format and ensuring that the data is clear and legible, must be provided immediately to State security agencies that may require it during a criminal investigation.

Based on the safety and confidentiality principle (No. 7) set forth in Decision No. 1318, the transfer of personal data to other countries requires the data owner's prior consent and that the recipient country has rules guaranteeing, at least, the same level of protection of personal data as Venezuelan regulations.