Venezuela's government to develop app that lets citizens report 'everything they see and hear'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has reportedly ordered the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB) to develop a smartphone app that will allow citizens to report anything they see or hear. Maduro said the aim of the app is to 'strengthen the intelligence activities of the people' and 'continue to guarantee peace' amid rising political tensions with the United States.

Maduro launches app for Venezuelans to report 'everything they see and hear' | International | EL PAÍS English

https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-10-22/maduro-launches-app-for-venezuelans-to-report-everything-they-see-and-hear.html

In 2022, the Venezuelan government launched 'VenApp,' an app for accepting complaints and requests from citizens. VenApp was introduced as a contact point for receiving complaints and requests from citizens regarding public services, and the number of registered users expanded to millions between 2023 and 2024. However, it has been pointed out that the app has also been used to organize and gather information on supporters of the government, and opposition parties and human rights groups have raised concerns that it is a 'surveillance and information gathering tool disguised as a government service.'

The new app announced by the Venezuelan government in October 2025 will build on the VenApp system and expand it into an information reporting network that will be integrated into the national defense system in cooperation with the military. The new app will allow citizens to report 'anything they see or hear, at any time,' and is intended for a very broad range of reporting.

'The VenApp system will be a new application integrated into the National Territorial Defense System, working with the National Armed Forces, Community Militia Forces and the Integrated People's Defense Bases,' President Maduro said.

Prior to President Maduro's announcement of the new smartphone app, Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello announced plans to install a large number of surveillance cameras across the country in order to 'strengthen public safety.' Venezuela has a monitoring and reporting network for local residents called 'Cooperating Patriots,' and the new app and surveillance cameras are believed to be part of a stronger system for monitoring political opponents and military actions that threaten public safety.

The Venezuelan government is promoting a zoned policy called 'Peace Quadrants,' which divides high-crime areas into 'quadrons' and mobilizes police, military, and resident organizations to strengthen 'comprehensive prevention,' 'enhanced security,' and 'community surveillance and resident participation.' The mass installation of surveillance cameras and the strengthening of a resident reporting network via an app are considered part of the Peace Quadrant initiative.

The Spanish media outlet El País , which reported on the case, pointed out that such state-sponsored reporting apps lack a clear constitutional basis, and expressed concerns that the scope of reporting is too broad, which could affect citizens' privacy, and that vague language such as 'behavior that threatens safety' could lead to increased crackdowns on anti-government and anti-establishment activities.