The Cuban government cracks down on freedom of expression as it moves closer to totalitarianism

The Cuban government is attempting to limit online content that it deems harmful to national interests by implementing a new law. The "Decree 35" law represents a frightening step towards restricting freedom of expression and stopping political analysts and commentators from expressing their critical, anti-government views. The "Decree 35" law imposes what is described as a "totalitarian attack against freedom of speech " both on the internet and on the radio. 

Cubans fear that any posts or comments on social media under the new legislation could now be criminalized. One of the new provisions is that those who violate it will be deprived of access to the Internet, and the government often restricts journalists' access to their cell phones. Cuba has even prosecuted and arrested several journalists in recent months. In the new "Decree 35" approach, targeted journalists will be prohibited from accessing the internet.  According to analysts, this law is part of a broader government strategy to control social media and criminalize content critical to the government. A violation of the law is any content that is considered to affect "public morality" or "public order." 

The Cuban government defends the new law as necessary to prevent "offensive" and "false" information from being spread online, but in practice, the rule will impose an additional layer of censorship on news and information for Cuban citizens. The timing of the passage of this legislation coincides with some of the heaviest demonstrations the government has ever experienced since 1980, with a significant number of the Cuban population frustrated by the government's ineffectiveness against COVID-19. Johns Hopkins University reports that Cuba has more than half a million confirmed cases and 4,500 deaths from COVID-19. 

 During the anti-government demonstrations in Cuba last July, the government suppressed protests, halted the use of social media platforms, and imprisoned several people who shared videos of police violence against protestors.