NetBlocks reported partial disruption to social media and messaging platforms in Cuba from 12 July 2021 shortly after Cubans went to the streets to protest the government.
Security experts from NetBlocks are observing partial disruption to social media and messaging platforms in Cuba from 12 July 2021 shortly after Cubans went to the streets to protest the government.
The move to limit the access online to Cubans aims at blocking citizens from sharing information about the situation within the country.
Instant messaging services like WhatsApp and Instagram, as well as social networks like Facebook servers were not available due to the filtering activity on the government-owned ETECSA (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba, S.A. / AS27725).
NetBlocks confirmed that the servers of the above services have become partially or fully unavailable on both fixed and cellular lines in Cuba
“The targeted restrictions are likely to limit the flow of information from Cuba following widespread protests as thousands rallied against the socialist government and rising protests on Sunday.” states Netblocks.
“NetBlocks metrics show that communications platforms WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and as well as some Telegram servers are disrupted on government-owned ETECSA (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba, S.A. / AS27725) including Cubacel, the cellular network operated by Cuba’s sole telecommunications company.”
Confirmed: Social media and messaging platforms restricted in #Cuba from Monday on state-run internet provider ETECSA; real-time network data corroborate reports of internet disruptions amid widening anti-government protests; incident ongoing 📵#CubaSOS
📰https://t.co/7eGwPS1Mqf pic.twitter.com/kY3G1qMAse
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) July 12, 2021
VPN services have yet to be blocked in the country, allowing citizens to bypass internet censorship.
NetBlocks reported that similar partial disruption was observed last year during the San Isidro protests in Havana.
Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook
(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Cuba)
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Pierluigi Paganini
Pierluigi Paganini is member of the ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security) Threat Landscape Stakeholder Group and Cyber G7 Group, he is also a Security Evangelist, Security Analyst and Freelance Writer. Editor-in-Chief at “Cyber Defense Magazine”, Pierluigi is a cyber security expert with over 20 years experience in the field, he is Certified Ethical Hacker at EC Council in London. The passion for writing and a strong belief that security is founded on sharing and awareness led Pierluigi to find the security blog “Security Affairs” recently named a Top National Security Resource for US. Pierluigi is a member of the “The Hacker News” team and he is a writer for some major publications in the field such as Cyber War Zone, ICTTF, Infosec Island, Infosec Institute, The Hacker News Magazine and for many other Security magazines. Author of the Books “The Deep Dark Web” and “Digital Virtual Currency and Bitcoin”.
NetBlocks reported partial disruption to social media and messaging platforms in Cuba from 12 July 2021 shortly after Cubans went to the streets to protest the government.
Security experts from NetBlocks are observing partial disruption to social media and messaging platforms in Cuba from 12 July 2021 shortly after Cubans went to the streets to protest the government.
The move to limit the access online to Cubans aims at blocking citizens from sharing information about the situation within the country.
Instant messaging services like WhatsApp and Instagram, as well as social networks like Facebook servers were not available due to the filtering activity on the government-owned ETECSA (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba, S.A. / AS27725).
NetBlocks confirmed that the servers of the above services have become partially or fully unavailable on both fixed and cellular lines in Cuba
“The targeted restrictions are likely to limit the flow of information from Cuba following widespread protests as thousands rallied against the socialist government and rising protests on Sunday.” states Netblocks.
“NetBlocks metrics show that communications platforms WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and as well as some Telegram servers are disrupted on government-owned ETECSA (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba, S.A. / AS27725) including Cubacel, the cellular network operated by Cuba’s sole telecommunications company.”
Confirmed: Social media and messaging platforms restricted in #Cuba from Monday on state-run internet provider ETECSA; real-time network data corroborate reports of internet disruptions amid widening anti-government protests; incident ongoing 📵#CubaSOS
📰https://t.co/7eGwPS1Mqf pic.twitter.com/kY3G1qMAse
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) July 12, 2021
VPN services have yet to be blocked in the country, allowing citizens to bypass internet censorship.
NetBlocks reported that similar partial disruption was observed last year during the San Isidro protests in Havana.
Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook
(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Cuba)