Venezuela is facing a troubling rise in authoritarianism under President Nicolás Maduro, which has significantly increased the risks for journalists.

Carlos Eduardo Huertas, director of the journalism platform Connectas, emphasized the growing persecution and danger that journalists encounter in the country.

Recent weeks have seen at least nine journalists detained, including 26-year-old Paúl León, who was arrested while covering peaceful protests and charged with terrorism.

The dismissal of former state broadcaster employees for sharing critical messages about the government highlights the chilling effect on media freedom in Venezuela.

In response to the oppressive environment, local journalists are now using AI avatars to report on news that is deemed unsafe to cover in person.

These AI-generated newsreaders, named La Chama and El Pana, aim to convey the harsh realities of life in Venezuela while ensuring the safety of reporters.

Despite the challenges posed by the regime, the use of AI technology allows journalists to continue reporting crucial stories that might otherwise remain untold.

This initiative, coordinated by Colombia-based Connectas, involves around 20 Venezuelan news outlets and about 100 journalists working together.

The project is dubbed Operación Retuit (Operation Retweet), a clever reference to Maduro's crackdown known as Operación Tun Tun (Operation Knock Knock).

Huertas compared Venezuelan journalists to firefighters, praising their courage and commitment to uncovering the truth despite significant risks.

AI presenters are openly acknowledging their artificial nature while reporting on significant issues, including the detention of over 1,000 people and at least 23 deaths during recent protests.

The political climate has forced many journalists to work anonymously and in hiding, driven by the fear of government retaliation.