The United States Congress has recently approved a groundbreaking law aimed at facilitating internet access in Cuba, a move hailed as a significant step towards freedom of information in the country.
The initiative, spearheaded by Cuban-American congressmen including Mario Díaz Balart, Carlos Giménez, and María Elvira Salazar, was included in the Law on State Appropriations, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs for Fiscal Year 2024. This law allocates $5 million to the Open Technology Fund (OTF) to develop innovative methodologies that will help circumvent internet restrictions imposed by the Cuban government.
The ultimate goal of the law is to break the information blockade implemented by the Cuban government and provide the Cuban people with access to free and uncensored information. Additionally, the Office of Broadcasts to Cuba (OCB) will receive increased funding to enhance its work in providing free and uncensored information through Radio Martí and Martí Noticias.
Furthermore, $43.6 million will be allocated to develop technologies that promote freedom on the internet and help bypass censorship in totalitarian countries like Cuba. The law also includes measures to prohibit funds for entrepreneurship programs and deny visas to government officials involved in the exploitation of Cuban doctors.
This initiative comes after the US State Department’s announcement in July 2021 to collaborate with the private sector and Congress to ensure access to the free flow of information in Cuba. The US government is committed to finding creative ways to help the Cuban people access the internet and break free from government-imposed restrictions.
The approval of this law reflects a joint effort to support democracy and human rights in Cuba and provide the Cuban people with essential tools for communication and access to information.