The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: How Internet Infrastructure Affects Digital Repression in Venezuela
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Oct 18, 2025 
Esteban Carisimo, a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University, discusses Venezuela's internet crisis and digital repression. They explore the impact of internet censorship on protests following the recent elections. Carisimo highlights the deteriorating infrastructure, revealing alarming findings about service blocking and the lack of investment. He describes how governmental control simplifies censorship and suggests regional hubs could help improve connectivity. The conversation ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the potential for recovery if political normalization occurs.
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Missing Submarine Cables Deepen Isolation
- Venezuela built only one submarine cable since 1998 and that cable mainly connects to Cuba.
- This contrasts with roughly 40 Latin American cables in the same period, leaving Venezuela internationally isolated.
Speeds Stagnated While Prices Remained Punishing
- Median download speeds fell to around 3 Mbps while regional averages exceed 20 Mbps.
- High-speed packages exist but are unaffordable, costing about ten times the minimum wage.
Very Few Peering Facilities Hurt Local Traffic
- Venezuela has only four peering facilities versus dozens in comparable countries, harming domestic traffic exchange.
- That scarcity explains poor local performance and weak regional integration.