Internetzensur in Kuba

Von Kuba können deutsche Innenminister noch prima lernen, wie das mit der Kontrolle des Internets und der Einschränkung der Meinungs- und Rezipientenfreiheit funktioniert und welche Massnahmen dazu notwendig sind. Reporter ohne Grenzen haben jetzt einen neuen Kuba-Report veröffentlicht: Reporters Without Borders publishes a report on how the authorities control the Internet in Cuba.

An investigation carried out by Reporters Without Borders revealed that the Cuban government uses several mechanisms to ensure that the Internet is not used in a “counter-revolutionary” fashion. Firstly, the government has more or less banned private Internet connections. To visit websites or check their e‑mail, Cubans have to use public access points such as Internet cafes, universities and “Youth computing centers” where it is easier to monitor their activity. Then, the Cuban police has installed software on all computers in Internet cafes and big hotels that triggers an alert message when “subversive” key-words are noticed.

The regime also ensures that there is no Internet access for its political opponents and independent journalists, for whom reaching news media abroad is an ordeal. The government also counts on self-censorship. In Cuba, you can get a 20-year prison sentence for writing a few “counter-revolutionary” articles for foreign websites, and a five-year one just for connecting with the Internet in an illegal manner. Few people dare to defy the state censorship and take such a risk.“

Den ganzen Report gibt es als PDF zum downloaden.