Report: Cuba Cuts Internet, Surveils Journalists
2024-03-01
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1There was a time when activists and reporters in Cuba had to speak in code or meet in European embassies to avoid government observation.
2Now, the internet and encrypted messaging services offers some assistance.
3But as technology has made private communicating easier, Havana has found ways to interfere with, or block, messages.
4Cuba's independent reporters take care to protect their phones so they do not go into the hands of officials.
5If government agents seize an individual's phone, they will search through its data for evidence of wrongdoing.
6The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press, or ICLEP, says it documented at least 210 incidents of internet restriction cases in the country in 2023.
7Those restrictions can include cutting internet access, blocking social media sites, or hacking the accounts of reporters or the media websites they work for, the ICLEP report found.
8Normando Hernandez is founder and director general of Miami, Florida-based ICLEP. He said the government tries to "silence independent journalists."
9"It is historically well known that the Cuban state listens and spies on all the conversations it wants to," Hernandez said.
10"Cubans have no way to defend themselves against any breach of their rights."
11Reporter Henry Constantin says his internet was cut suddenly after La Hora de Cuba, the media site for which he works, began criticizing the Cuban government.
12La Hora de Cuba is published on Facebook and Instagram.
13Its team of 15 reporters has an audience of between 46,000 and 48,000 on social media.
14Constantin says disconnecting journalists' telephone lines or internet access is designed to limit free speech.
15Hernandez said the government controls all access to digital expression.
16Havana controls the Cuban telecommunications company ETECSA, which controls all digital communications on the island.
17Access to the network for users represents both a threat to Havana and an instrument of control for officials.
18But with that control, said Hernandez, officials can easily "cut communication in general at historically important moments ... or when something is happening in the island of interest to Cuban society."
19That appears to be the case with Constantin.
20In 2021, he was detained for 10 days for public disorder after reporting on demonstrations against the government over food shortages and medicinal problems.
21ICLEP has documented digital harassment since 2016.
22In 2021, the activity was especially strong. ICLEP documented 1,129 violations of freedom of expression that year.
23During that year, protests against the Cuban government and Communist Party were the biggest since the 1959 revolution.
24Prisoners Defenders International is a Spain-based human rights group.
25It said Cuba's government has been spying on reporters and activists for many years.
26Javier Larrondo is president of Prisoners Defenders.
27He said the government monitors text messages for "sensitive words."
28Using encrypted services like WhatsApp or Telegram is not always enough.
29When reporters or opposition activists are arrested, their phones are always seized and the memory inspected by experts.
30"As such, it is essential never to go out with a mobile phone but to leave it at home, hidden."
31Or to go out with a second phone without memory, he said.
32I'm Dan Novak.
1There was a time when activists and reporters in Cuba had to speak in code or meet in European embassies to avoid government observation. 2Now, the internet and encrypted messaging services offers some assistance. But as technology has made private communicating easier, Havana has found ways to interfere with, or block, messages. 3Cuba's independent reporters take care to protect their phones so they do not go into the hands of officials. If government agents seize an individual's phone, they will search through its data for evidence of wrongdoing. 4The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press, or ICLEP, says it documented at least 210 incidents of internet restriction cases in the country in 2023. 5Those restrictions can include cutting internet access, blocking social media sites, or hacking the accounts of reporters or the media websites they work for, the ICLEP report found. 6Normando Hernandez is founder and director general of Miami, Florida-based ICLEP. He said the government tries to "silence independent journalists." 7"It is historically well known that the Cuban state listens and spies on all the conversations it wants to," Hernandez said. "Cubans have no way to defend themselves against any breach of their rights." 8Reporter Henry Constantin says his internet was cut suddenly after La Hora de Cuba, the media site for which he works, began criticizing the Cuban government. 9La Hora de Cuba is published on Facebook and Instagram. Its team of 15 reporters has an audience of between 46,000 and 48,000 on social media. 10Constantin says disconnecting journalists' telephone lines or internet access is designed to limit free speech. Hernandez said the government controls all access to digital expression. 11Havana controls the Cuban telecommunications company ETECSA, which controls all digital communications on the island. 12Access to the network for users represents both a threat to Havana and an instrument of control for officials. But with that control, said Hernandez, officials can easily "cut communication in general at historically important moments ... or when something is happening in the island of interest to Cuban society." 13That appears to be the case with Constantin. 14In 2021, he was detained for 10 days for public disorder after reporting on demonstrations against the government over food shortages and medicinal problems. 15ICLEP has documented digital harassment since 2016. 16In 2021, the activity was especially strong. ICLEP documented 1,129 violations of freedom of expression that year. During that year, protests against the Cuban government and Communist Party were the biggest since the 1959 revolution. 17Prisoners Defenders International is a Spain-based human rights group. It said Cuba's government has been spying on reporters and activists for many years. Javier Larrondo is president of Prisoners Defenders. He said the government monitors text messages for "sensitive words." 18Using encrypted services like WhatsApp or Telegram is not always enough. When reporters or opposition activists are arrested, their phones are always seized and the memory inspected by experts. 19"As such, it is essential never to go out with a mobile phone but to leave it at home, hidden." Or to go out with a second phone without memory, he said. 20I'm Dan Novak. 21Graham Keeley wrote this story for Voice of America. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. 22_______________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24code - n. a set of letters, numbers, symbols, etc., that is used to secretly send messages to someone 25encrypted - adj. to change from one form to another especially to hide its meaning 26access - n. a way of being able to use or get something 27hack - v. to secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information, cause damage, etc. 28breach - v. a failure to do what is required by a law, an agreement, or a duty : failure to act in a required or promised way 29harass - v. to annoy or bother in a constant or repeated way 30essential - adj. extremely important and necessary