Why the US can’t just beam internet into authoritarian states like Cuba

After an eruption of historic, nationwide protests on July 11, the Cuban government is blocking its citizens’ access to major social media platforms to quash dissent. Now, the US government says it’s looking for ways to beam uncensored internet access into Cuba.

On July 21, a State Department official confirmed that the Biden administration is “working with the private sector & Congress to identify ways to make the internet more accessible to the Cuban people.” A day earlier, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told the South Florida local news station WPBF that restoring internet access in Cuba is a priority for president Joe Biden. “That isn’t easy,” Psaki said. “But he’s going to look for ways, working with his team, to expand ways to do that, or see what our options are.”

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