PressEthic

There are currently twenty-four imprisoned Cuban journalists – jailed under the accusation of being a mercenary or enemy of state. Some are serving prison sentences of 14-27 years, others are being held without trial. Another despite being put on trial, has never been told what his sentence is. According to Reporters Without Borders, this is due to the journalists' attempts to exercise freedom of speech - through avenues such as founding an independent news agency or writing a dissident review, avenues not within the Cuban government’s realm of official “approved” media.

Reporters Without Borders, a press freedom watchdog, has now published an investigative report detailing the organization's perceptions of the Cuban government’s continuing efforts to prevent access to “independent media,” particularly through the censoring of Internet usage.

According to a Reuters article which details the report:

With less than 2 percent of the population online, Cuba is one of the world’s most backward countries as regards Internet usage. This is quite surprising in a country that boasts one of the highest levels of education in the world.

Cuba, next to China, is the second biggest prison in the world for journalists, and like China, Cuba controls access to the Internet. According to the RWB investigation, Cuba's Internet cafes are closely monitored and all computer entries are scanned for suspect keywords, which automatically cause the shutdown of computers. Full Internet access is granted only to government approved officials and many others attempt to purchase illegal passwords on the black market.

The Cuban government employs many surveillance mechanisms to ensure the Internet is not used in a “counter revolutionary” fashion. The cost and implication of using unfiltered Internet is so high that many Cubans opt for the “national” connection – which at 4 euros is cheaper, yet still one-third of the average monthly wage and includes government operated email but not full Internet access. The regime ensures that there is no Internet access for political opponents or journalists who could access news abroad.

The Cuban government blames the U.S. trade embargo for preventing them from access to means for Internet development.

RWB counters this argument:

This may indeed explain the slowness of the Cuban Internet and the endless lines outside Internet cafes. But in no way does it justify the system of control and surveillance that has been put in place by the authorities. In a country where media are under the government's thumb, preventing independent reports and information from circulating has naturally become a priority.

When we speak of issues regarding the complexities of American freedom of press, we should remain grateful for the opportunity to stir controversy that creates the need for such discourse. In an age when we can no longer imagine what our lives were like without the Internet, it is important to remember those who seemingly have no choice.