Cuba Criticized for Denying Web Access to its Citizens

a french media watch dog organization has confirmed what we all knew, and has criticized Cuba for denying web access to its citizens.

of course, Cuba's aim is to prevent its people access to independent news sources (the better to control and manipulate the information they receive). less than 2 percent of Cubans connect to the web, and then only at closely monitored internet access points. the high price at the few existing internet cafes (about one third of a month's wages per hour, in a country that otherwise subsidizes housing, health care, and education) also acts as an effective block to Cuban's internet access.

this is an issue that i've touched on before. see Internet for All? Not in Cubaland.

on a related topic, Cuba also severely restricts its people's access to cell phones (who knows who the rascals may call, or where in the world they may connect to?). The High Cost of Cell Phones.