Journalism and free speech are stifled thanks to government restrictions on Cuban internet freedom

From the Free Cuba Foundation:

The Free Cuba Foundation welcomes the Cuba Internet Freedom Conference and its reminder that the United Nations has declared Internet access a basic Human right. Nevertheless, it is important to recall that the Internet is not a panacea:

“We must not mistake the Internet which is a tool, for a strategy to achieve democratic change in Cuba; even so, we must demand that it the Internet be uncensored and Independent of state control.”

“Although Google has demonstrated the technical capability of its Loon project which claims to offer balloon powered Internet for everyone, it refuses to do so where it counts most. Instead of a disrupter Google seeks to act in complicity with the Castro regime.”

“Google is choosing to stand with the oppressor rather then with the oppressed, in clear violation of their “Don’t Be Evil” code of conduct, partnering with an octogenarian Socialist Dictatorship in favor of millions of Cuban youth; is not only wrong but a terrible business decision.”

– said Augusto Monge of the Free Cuba Foundation and elected member of the Coordinating Council of the Congress of the Cuban National Conference.

The emphasis on Internet technology by pro-democracy activists should not overlook the role that companies such as Yahoo and Google have played in China to censor information and target dissidents for the dictatorship there in order to conduct business. These practices are now being carried out in Cuba by Google.

This is why it was so important that participants at the Second Cuban National Gathering in Puerto Rico representing activists from inside and outside of Cuba on August 16, 2016, unanimously voted and agreed on the following point:

“DENOUNCED THE INDIFFERENCE OF THE COMPANY GOOGLE IN VIOLATION OF ITS OWN CODE OF CORPORATE CONDUCT AND DEMANDED THAT IT ESTABLISH A CORRECT POLICY TO PROVIDE WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE WITH NO CENSORSHIP AND WITHOUT DEPENDENCE ON THE REGIME IN BENEFIT OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE.”

The Obama administration’s Cuba policy that focuses on credits, micro-enterprises, travel, and internet will not lead to a democratic opening in Cuba, not in the short, medium, or long term. Instead, it will serve as a distraction that will prolong the life of the dictatorship in Cuba and the Castro regime’s power and influence abroad.