Nicaragua's Government Intensifies Internet Censorship Amid Telecom Law Changes

The Nicaraguan government, led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, is intensifying internet censorship through the enactment of the new General Law of Convergent Telecommunications. This law not only reorganizes telecommunications networks but also consolidates a system of total censorship, effectively silencing dissenting voices in the country.

Opposition groups have labeled it the 'gag law,' raising concerns over the extensive powers granted to the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services, known as TELCOR. Under the leadership of Nahima Diaz Flores, TELCOR can now demand statistical and georeferenced data from audiovisual operators.

This allows the government to construct a digital surveillance system that tracks who communicates with whom, the frequency, and timing of those communications. Alexa Zamora, an expert on human rights and telecommunications, warns that the Convergent Telecommunications Law, along with reforms to the Cybercrimes Law, creates a framework that could severely restrict freedom of expression and digital rights.

The regime's previous actions included blocking domains of independent media and pressuring cable companies to remove critical channels. The new law is marketed as a modernization of the telecommunications framework but hides an agenda that allows for broader control of content and communication channels.

Article 110 of the law mandates that operators provide extensive information to TELCOR, which experts say could lead to identifying networks of dissenters without accessing their actual communications.

This could enable the government to monitor opposition activities, profile audiences consuming independent media, and even target specific regions with propaganda. As a result, many Nicaraguans are increasingly paranoid about their online privacy, often resorting to VPNs and other security measures to protect their communications.

The implications of these laws extend beyond mere regulation; they represent a significant threat to free speech and the role of telecommunications in society, as outlined in reports from various experts on the subject.