No independent journalists are currently imprisoned in Cuba, which is only coincidental in a country where the repression of free expression and of the independent media is as pervasive and unforgiving as ever.
In recent years, the Castro dictatorship has attempted to extend its blockade on information to the Internet, namely by limiting access to the Internet.
In a report released to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, the Committee to Protect Journalists describes how the Castro dictatorship tries to keep the Cuban people offline:
High-tech attacks against Internet journalists aren’t needed if access barely exists. In Cuba, government policies have left domestic Internet infrastructure severely restricted. Only a small fraction of the population is permitted to use the Internet at home, with the vast majority required to use state-controlled access points with identity checks, heavy surveillance, and restrictions on access to non-Cuban sites. To post or read independent news, online journalists go to cybercafes and use official Internet accounts that are traded on the black market. Those who do get around the many obstacles face other problems. Prominent bloggers such as Yoani Sánchez have been smeared in a medium accessible by all Cubans: state-run television. Cuba and Venezuela recently announced the start of a new fiber-optic cable connection between the two countries that promises to increase Cuba’s international connectivity. But it’s unclear whether the general public will benefit from connectivity improvements any time soon.
Recent Comments