Venezuela experienced a dramatic surge in VPN usage starting January 3, 2026, coinciding with the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in "Operation Absolute Resolve." As the US military operation caused targeted power and internet outages in Caracas, Venezuelan citizens turned to VPNs in record numbers to bypass state-controlled censorship, access reliable news, and circumvent ongoing throttling by state provider CANTV. Similar restrictions could happen again. Anywhere, anytime.

How the disruption was measured

To understand how people in Venezuela responded to the January 3 events, VPN usage data and network monitoring were tracked from multiple sources.

App telemetry

Connection data from the VPN app in Venezuela was monitored during the operation. This data showed how quickly users turned to workaround tools once the news of Maduro's capture broke and internet access became unstable. All data was anonymous and grouped by country only—no personal details or browsing history were collected.

• Data was grouped, not tied to individual users
• Only country-level connection counts were used
• No personal information or browsing activity was collected

The chain of events

The January 2026 surge was triggered by one of the most significant geopolitical events in recent history: the US military extraction of Venezuela's head of state.

Phase 1: Operation Absolute Resolve (January 3, 2026)

• 02:00 AM: US forces initiate "Operation Absolute Resolve," striking infrastructure in northern Venezuela.
• 02:30 AM: Targeted cyber and physical attacks cut power to Caracas to neutralize air defenses.
• 05:21 AM: President Trump announces the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores by US Delta Force.
• Immediate Impact: State media goes silent on the details; internet connectivity in Caracas drops significantly.

Phase 2: The Information Vacuum (January 3-4, 2026)

• State Censorship: The Chavista regime maintains strict control over remaining broadcasts, refusing to show footage of the capture.
• VPN Spike: Venezuelans flood to VPNs to access international news sites (CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera) and social media to verify rumors.
• Starlink Intervention: Elon Musk announces free Starlink service for Venezuela through February 3 to bypass state-controlled ISP blackouts.

Phase 3: The Aftermath (January 5, 2026)

• 120% Usage Increase: VPN usage hits a peak of +120% above baseline as citizens seek uncensored updates on the transition of power.
• Deepfakes & Confusion: AI-generated images of the arrest flood social media, making access to reliable, encrypted information channels critical.

The reality check

When a government falls or a leader is captured, the first casualty is often the truth. You are suddenly:

• Cut off from reality: State media broadcasts "normalcy" while history happens outside.
• Unable to verify safety: Rumors of violence spread without reliable confirmation.
• Locked out of banking: Financial panic often leads to blocked banking apps and sites.
• Dependent on outside help: Tools like Starlink and VPNs become the only link to the outside world.

Your right to know what is happening in your own country shouldn't disappear during a crisis.

Got Blocked? Help Track It

If you are in Venezuela and experiencing internet restrictions, you can help document digital rights violations during this critical transition:

• Submit anonymous data: Share error screenshots, connection logs, and timestamps of blocked sites.
• Run a test: Use OONI Probe or NetBlocks tools to safely measure network censorship on your local connection.

Together, censorship can be mapped and fought.