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Young Cubans Set Up Mini-Internet

Posted by Soulskill on from the do-internet-yourself dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Internet connections remain illegal for Cuban households, but many of the country's citizens still want to tap into the power of networked information exchange. A group of tech-savvy young Cubans has set up a network comprising thousands of computers to serve as their own miniature version of the internet. They use chat rooms, play games, and connect to organize real-life activities. Cuban law enforcement seems willing to tolerate it (so far), but the network polices itself so as not to draw undue attention.

One of the engineers who helped build the network said, "We aren't anonymous because the country has to know that this type of network exists. They have to protect the country and they know that 9,000 users can be put to any purpose. We don't mess with anybody. All we want to do is play games, share healthy ideas. We don't try to influence the government or what's happening in Cuba ... We do the right thing and they let us keep at it."

4 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Saddest line ever by Crashmarik · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We don't mess with anybody. All we want to do is play games, share healthy ideas. We don't try to influence the government or what's happening in Cuba We do the right thing and they let us keep at it.

    If you ever want to see how soul destroying communism is there it is. Might as well still have the country controlled by the Mafia, at least it would be more fun.

    1. Re:Saddest line ever by captainpanic · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Let's see you try to overthrow your government and post about it on the internet. Let's see how long you keep your free internet access (and your freedom in general).

    2. Re:Saddest line ever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The only two options are not "complete and total freedom to do anything you want" and "complete control by a dictatorship". no country is going to allow folks to plot a violent overthrow of the government. But being able to criticize the government is a basic human right that does not exist in Cuba. Granted the US is not perfect, or close to it, but we are a lot more free than our Cuban counterparts.

    3. Re:Saddest line ever by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Let's see you try to overthrow your government and post about it on the internet. Let's see how long you keep your free internet access (and your freedom in general).

      Right now, any dickwad in America is free to put up a website advocating abolishment of the American government. And indeed, many of them have. Further, there is in fact a completely legal process for elimination of the constitution; you could pass an Amendment replacing it with another document. Nothing prevents anyone from starting a political party on this basis. I bet if I were less lazy I could find some really batshit crazy examples right now, but I equally bet that some people out there in Slashdot-land already know of some. I hope they will help out and link them here.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"