Venezuelan Security Forces Reportedly Searching Phones for Words Like 'Trump,' 'Maduro' and 'Invasion'

Security forces in Caracas are reportedly stopping civilians at checkpoints and ordering them to search their WhatsApp chats for the words "Trump," "Maduro" and "invasion," according to Venezuelan news outlet El Pitazo, which cited sources who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.

These checks are taking place at roadblocks across the capital, the report said, though the sources did not specify which security bodies are involved or the exact locations of the control points. The practice builds on what activists describe as an increasingly common pattern since last year's botched presidential election: cellphone inspections during security operations, now with specific keyword searches added.

Venezuelan fact-checking outlet Cotejo.info previously noted that under domestic law, police officers cannot search a cellphone without a court order confirming there is an ongoing investigation. It pointed to repeated complaints since 2017 from nongovernmental organizations and the media that phone checks at checkpoints violate constitutional protections.

Article 48 of Venezuela's Constitution guarantees "the secrecy and inviolability of private communications in all their forms," allowing interference only by order of a competent court and requiring that strictly private content unrelated to a case remain protected. Articles 57 and 58 reinforce the rights to free expression and to receive "timely, truthful and impartial" information without censorship.

The phone searches reported by El Pitazo are emerging as human rights groups say internal repression has intensified in parallel with growing U.S. military pressure on the Maduro government. CNN reported last week that NGOs such as Provea documented October as one of the most repressive months of 2025, with dozens of detentions, many linked to the opposition movement Vente Venezuela.

CNN also highlighted the case of 65-year-old doctor Marggie Orozco, sentenced to 30 years in prison after sharing an audio message in a WhatsApp group that allegedly encouraged voting in the 2024 presidential election. Provea said the ruling shows how authorities are using the justice system to deter citizens from expressing opinions, including in private digital spaces.

Rights organizations and opposition figures quoted by CNN describe a shift toward more "surgical" tactics, including selective arrests, alleged enforced disappearances and prosecutions based on social media posts or private messages. Foro Penal, another NGO, reported hundreds of political detainees and warned that foreigners and dual nationals face particular risks.

Venezuelan authorities have previously rejected such reports as biased and "interventionist," insisting that due process and human rights are respected in all cases.