Chavez takes another shot at #FreeWebVe →

On speech on Saturday, Chavez called for Internet regulation, from AP:

The Internet can’t be something free where anything can be done and said. No, every country has to impose its rules and regulations.

Chavez called on the Public Works & Housing Minister and, the Attorney General office, to investigate NoticieroDigital’s publication of unconfirmed news.

The comments where made in an event with his party (PSUV) national assembly primaries candidates. This forum adds some seriousness to the threat, since many are up for reelection and Chavez support is strictly necessary.

Distributed or centralized censorship?

If politics in Venezuela had any rationale, one could argue that it seems like Chavez is looking for a similar framework as the Law on Social Responsibility of Radio and TV. One of the main consequences of this law has been the self-censorship of most stations, because of concerns of being closed.

While this can’t considered good news, it does open the possibility of any Web site or services operating outside Venezuela to continue to work.

However, it could also mean that Internet providers will be liable for whatever content goes thru their servers. For wired broadband and dialup accounts, this wouldn’t cause much oposition, since the state-owned CANTV already controls most of market.

On the other had, mobile internet is a bit different, since the two main private operators combined (Movistar and Digitel) still have more market share than Movilnet, the mobile arm of CANTV.

From the technical aspect, all of this is still non-news, but the wheels are starting to be set in motion.