Cuban Protests Were Powered by the Internet. The State Then Pulled the Plug

The wave of spontaneous protests that rocked Cuba on July 11 was propelled by social media and the proliferation of mobile internet, which Cubans have only had for the past three years. The government responded by leaving the island virtually incommunicado for two days. To contain the spread of mass demonstrations, authorities cut internet service, along with the fixed phone lines of some activists in the island. The shutdown made it hard for Cubans to organize or to get news of the demonstrations out to the rest of the country. The security crackdown has quelled protests for now, but activists say that they are determined to continue their campaign. The regime must weigh the impact of more internet shutdowns, which could further weaken a struggling economy.