Venezuelan News Outlet Launches NFT Collection to Combat Digital Censorship

Efecto Cocuyo (EC), an independent news site in Venezuela, has introduced a collection of NFTs to raise funds and bring attention to the digital censorship it faces in the country. Founded in 2015, EC is now recognized as one of Venezuela's leading news platforms.

Using blockchain immutability to fight censorship, Efecto Cocuyo's NFT collection consists of 489 images representing the days when the site was blocked in Venezuela. These NFTs showcase the error message that Venezuelans receive when attempting to access the EC website.

Luz Mely Reyes, the co-founder of Efecto Cocuyo, explained in an interview with the LatAm Journalism Review (LJR), "In the face of digital censorship being implemented by Nicolás Maduro's government, we decided to repurpose this technology to immortalize and make visible the censorship we suffer as independent media."

While Venezuela is not known for its embrace of free speech, the government was an early adopter of cryptocurrency. Under Nicolás Maduro's leadership, the country introduced Petro, a cryptocurrency supposedly backed by national oil and mineral reserves.

The blockage of EC's site by the country's main Internet Service Providers (ISPs) has been confirmed by digital rights organization VE Sin Filtro. These systematic blockages began occurring between January 31 and February 1, 2022.

Unfortunately, EC is not the only site facing restrictions. Over 35 news sites were blocked during the 2021 regional elections, and error messages have become increasingly common for those seeking access to information or activism content.

Even the website for purchasing the NFTs, efectococuyonft.com, is blocked in Venezuela and can only be accessed through a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

"Internet blockages are implemented by providers on the order of the telecommunications regulator, in a process usually without judicial order, without a clear legal basis, without transparency, and in violation of international human rights standards," stated Efecto Cocuyo.

A First for Latin America

While major outlets like the New York Times, CNN, TIME, and GQ have launched NFT collections with varying degrees of success, this initiative by EC marks the first instance of a Latin American journalistic platform venturing into blockchain technology.

EC is known for its innovative approach. In 2015, the team conducted the most successful crowdfunding campaign for a Venezuelan digital outlet. They are also the only digital media organization in the country with a dedicated fact-checking unit, in collaboration with other Venezuelan organizations specializing in combating misinformation.

Moreover, the site operates its own training school, Escola Cocuyo, focusing on migration topics. It has trained over a thousand journalists both within and outside the country and provides specialized guides on reporting immigration, violence, humanitarian emergencies, and other subjects.

Regarding the funds raised through the NFT collection, co-founder Luz Mely Reyes commented, "It is more of a donation, and the return is being able to support a medium like EC in continuing its mission."