Florida’s DeSantis Wants U.S. Companies To Give Cuba Free Internet Amid Its Continued Protests - Forbes

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Topline

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Tuesday he wants Florida companies to give internet access to Cuban protesters, in response to the country's government restricting internet access while some of Cuba's largest anti-communist demonstrations in history continue.

Key Facts

DeSantis said at a roundtable discussion with members of Florida's Cuban-American community that he wants companies to send internet connections into Cuba via satellite and would reach out to "see what are the options" to accomplish that.

Tuesday marked day three of widespread protesting in Cuba, which has led to the government blocking social media sites like Facebook and WhatsApp after falsely claiming the protesting is the result of American media.

Florida's large and politically influential Cuban-American community also joined in the protesting on Tuesday, with anti-communist demonstrators blocking both directions of the Palmetto Expressway in Miami.

In Cuba, activists claim more than 100 people have either been arrested or have gone missing since Sunday.

Crucial Quote

"We call on Cuba's leaders to demonstrate restraint (and) respect for the voice of the people by opening all means of communication, both online and offline," State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing on Tuesday. Price also called on the Cuban government to release any peaceful demonstrators that might be detained.

What We Don’t Know

It’s not clear how DeSantis intends to persuade companies to provide internet connections to Cuba, or how such a system would operate.

Key Background

Protesters are demanding Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel step down amid an economic downturn and a shortage of Covid-19 vaccines. But Diaz-Canel is saying the U.S. is the cause of the nation's problems—not the Communist government—because the U.S. tightened longstanding sanctions against Cuba during President Donald Trump's administration. The U.S. is now facing increased pressure to ease economic sanctions, including from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but President Joe Biden has not indicated he plans to lift any of the sanctions in response.