Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a 10-day block on access to the social network X, accusing owner Elon Musk of using it to promote hatred following the country's disputed presidential election. Maduro, who declared victory in the election despite opposition claims of fraud, warned about regulating social networks and their potential role in creating political unrest.

According to Associated Press journalists in Caracas, posts on X stopped loading on two private telephone services and state-owned Movilnet by Thursday night. Maduro stated that Musk, as the owner of X, violated the platform's rules and incited hatred, alleging that the social network was also being used by his opponents to fuel political unrest.

Maduro signed a resolution proposed by the National Telecommunications Commission to block X in Venezuela for 10 days to allow for the presentation of necessary documents. X's press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The move comes after a public exchange of accusations between Maduro and Musk following the country's presidential election on July 28, where Maduro was declared the winner amid ongoing disputes about the voting process.

With tensions high in Venezuela over the election results and broader political issues, Maduro's decision to suspend X access reflects concerns about the platform's influence on public discourse and potential for inciting further unrest. The 10-day block on X highlights the government's efforts to control the flow of information and address what it perceives as threats to national stability.