"[3] Created and financed by the government of Venezuela,[4] VIO was registered with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

[6][7] In September 2003, VIO contacted Global Exchange in order to "ensure success" of their campaign while also discussing "ideas for strategizing on Venezuela" and "to begin conference calls of solidarity groups".

[2] In addition to maintaining a public website and a blog, VIO promoted its views in the media in a number of ways, including issuing press releases, contributing articles (such as responses to the 2008 Human Rights Watch report[10] on Venezuela[11][12]), and being available for interviews.

[6] Journalist received emails "suggesting ideas for balanced reporting" and asked activists to "complain against alleged newspaper biases".

[1] In 2004, the VIO contracted public relations company Lumina Strategies, headed by former Global Exchange employee Michael Shellenberger, to help lobby for the Venezuelan government and improve the poor image of then President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, in the United States.

[15][17][18] According to The New York Times, VIO activists would not only "spiff up Venezuela's image" but also "doggedly unearth damaging evidence of Bush administration ties to opposition groups".