The inaugural Comprehensive Report on Digital Surveillance in Cuba, released by the organization Prisoners Defenders, unveils firsthand accounts of how the Cuban state has constructed an extensive surveillance system that infiltrates the digital, familial, and emotional lives of citizens both on the island and abroad.
Drawing on testimonies from 200 Cubans residing either on the island or in exile, the report highlights that surveillance is neither sporadic nor incidental. Rather, it is a sustained state policy intertwined with police repression, discretionary use of punitive laws, and manipulation of internet access.
A staggering 98.5% of respondents reported experiencing threats, summons, sanctions, detentions, or reprisals against their families due to their digital activities or private communications.
Cuban authorities extend their monitoring beyond public social media posts on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, or X. The report details instances where private messages, audio recordings, screenshots, and even one-on-one conversations were referenced during police interrogations, often without the victims' knowledge of being surveilled.
Almost half of those surveyed noticed unauthorized access to their accounts, password changes, or messages sent from their profiles without consent. Others reported being forced to unlock their phones and surrender passwords during detentions or interrogations.
Extending Control Beyond the Screen
Digital surveillance, as revealed in the report, does not remain confined to the digital realm. After a critical post or an uncomfortable conversation, control frequently shifts to the streets and the home. Over 84% of participants observed physical surveillance following their online activity, such as patrols outside their homes, individuals watching from the street, being followed by motorcycles or cars, and receiving warning visits. In some instances, cameras were even installed outside homes, creating a constant atmosphere of intimidation.
Connectivity is another control mechanism. Only 5% of respondents reported experiencing no anomalies in their internet access. Selective data outages, social media blocks, deliberate slowdowns, blackouts during protests, and restrictions on VPN use were frequently noted, particularly on symbolic dates like July 11 or during political trials.
Adding to these challenges is the high cost and low quality of internet service. The report suggests these are elements of a structural digital divide maintained by the state's telecommunications monopoly.
Impact on Families and Society
One of the report’s most distressing findings is the impact on families. Reprisals are not limited to those who post or speak out but extend to parents, partners, children, and siblings.
Common tactics include detentions, threats, summons, job loss, and educational system issues, all used to pressure and silence dissent. Even Cubans in exile shared stories of their island-based relatives being punished for posts made from abroad, demonstrating that surveillance and repression transcend national borders.
This pervasive system results in a climate of sustained fear. Over half of the respondents admitted to altering their digital behavior, such as refraining from political posts, deleting old messages, leaving messaging groups, closing accounts, or turning to anonymity.
Fear permeates all communication channels, from phone calls to social media and encrypted apps, leaving no perceived safe space.
The report concludes that digital surveillance in Cuba operates as an integrated social control system aimed at neutralizing dissent, fragmenting civic networks, and provoking self-censorship. It's not merely about technology, the authors caution, but a political model using fear as a governing tool, impacting not only free expression but also the private, familial, and emotional lives of millions of Cubans.
During the report's presentation this Tuesday via teleconference, the president of Prisoners Defenders, Javier Larrondo, expressed regret over the level of "self-censorship" the system has instilled on the island.
"The degree of self-censorship is staggering... there's terror among the population about posting on social media or even speaking on WhatsApp," he remarked, according to the Efe agency.
Understanding the Impact of Digital Surveillance in Cuba
What is the main finding of the report on digital surveillance in Cuba?
The report reveals that digital surveillance in Cuba is a deliberate and sustained state policy, deeply integrated with police repression and punitive laws, affecting both digital and personal lives of citizens.
How does digital surveillance affect Cuban families?
Surveillance repercussions are not limited to individuals but extend to families, with relatives facing detentions, threats, and job losses as a means of silencing dissent and exerting control.
Why is there a high cost and low quality of internet in Cuba?
The report suggests that the high cost and low quality of internet service in Cuba are part of a structural digital divide maintained by the state’s telecommunications monopoly to control information flow.