On Monday Venezuelan officials confirmed that the government is not planning to censor the Internet and shut down social networks such as Twitter and Facebook in the country. Concerns over the potential censorship that takes place in Cuba, Iran and China arose after President Hugo Chavez called for regulation of the Internet.

Last week Chavez stated that authorities should take strict measures against news and opinion site Noticerodigital after it published user comments claiming that a senior minister had been assassinated. He added that the Internet should be regulated similarly to other areas where OPEC laws are applied.

Among other things the national government also wants to change the structure of the Internet in Venezuela by installing a "unique connection point." Such a system is allegedly more efficient and provides faster access while critics fear it will lead to censorship.

"They say the government is looking to control what appears on the Internet, its not like that -- but those who use the Internet have to be responsible," said Manuel Villalba, president of the science and technology commission in the national assembly.

He said the assembly was not planning to change the law to increase state control of the Internet. Attorney General Luisa Ortega, who on Monday opened an investigation into Noticiero Digital, said the assembly should create new legislation.