Bonum Certa Men Certa

Cablegate: Microsoft Helps the United States Ban Encrypted Communication in Cuba

Cablegate



Summary: A confidential cable from just 2 years ago shows the background to Microsoft's IM ban in several countries that the US views as enemies

IN MAY of 2009 we wrote repeatedly about Microsoft playing along with political sanctions by banning particular countries. The following Cablegate cable, titled "CUBANS DISAPPOINTED BY MICROSOFT; INSPIRED BY IRAN," shows what diplomats were saying about it. It's marked "C O N F I D E N T I A L" (far higher than most cables of this kind) and it is easy to see why. We are highlighting a few bits of interest:







VZCZCXRO4534
RR RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHTRO
DE RUEHUB #0361/01 1701858
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191858Z JUN 09
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4494
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCOGCA/COMNAVBASE GUANTANAMO BAY CU
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000361 


SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA DEPT FOR EEB/ESC/TFS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2029 TAGS: EINT, PREL, ECON, CU, IR SUBJECT: CUBANS DISAPPOINTED BY MICROSOFT; INSPIRED BY IRAN

HAVANA 00000361 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: COM Jonathan Farrar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

------- SUMMARY -------

1. (C) The decision by Microsoft and others to block certain internet communication services in Cuba works directly against U.S. goals to advance people-to-people interaction. The growing Cuban virtual community has privately and publicly expressed its disappointment. Bloggers remain undeterred, however, in their effort to break Cuba's information blockade and are inspired by current events in Iran and the expanded use of mobile phones to receive and transmit information. This cable contains an action request in paragraph 6. End Summary.

------------------------------------------ DOING THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT'S WORK FOR THEM ------------------------------------------

2. (C) Cuban bloggers Yoani Sanchez and Claudia Cadelo recently expressed disappointment in Microsoft's decision to block access to Windows Live Instant Messenger for internet users in Cuba (and other state sponsors of terrorism) through their respective blogs, Generacion Y and Octavo Cerco. The Cuban Government strictly controls internet usage and restricts access to several internet sites (including many blogs), even for tourists in Cuban hotels. In shutting down Instant Messenger, both bloggers commented that Microsoft is in effect doing the work of Cuban Government censors for them. The bloggers worry that potential further action to avoid violations of the U.S. embargo by foreign internet and software companies may negatively affect the growing cyber community in Cuba. Tech savvy Cubans can get around the restrictions by using proxy servers based outside Cuba or third party messenger hosts, but most Cubans are simply forced to do without.

3. (C) Microsoft and other providers of similar free, downloadable software (Note: Google Talk is also blocked. End Note) claim that the encrypted code used in these programs is restricted by U.S. Export Administration Regulations. The Cuban official press predictably (and hypocritically) took advantage of the situation to criticize Microsoft's decision as "the latest turn of the screw in the United States' technological blockage against the island" and "a truly harsh violation" of Cuba's rights. Publicity around Microsoft's decision comes at a critical time in U.S.-Cuba relations as we await the pending implementation of the policy changes announced by the White House on April 13 to "authorize greater telecommunications links with Cuba to advance people-to-people interaction at no cost to the U.S. government." Furthermore, Claudia Cadelo wrote in her June 10 blog that she had heard rumors that the social networking site Facebook may follow Microsoft's example. Operating a Facebook account does not require the user to download any software. Thus, Facebook does not share the same concerns related to export restrictions as the downloadable messenger sites. Per conversations with the Department, Facebook reported this week that it blocks Cuban access to applications and advertising, but not to normal social networking operations. We understand from Cuban contacts that Cubans continue to successfully access Facebook accounts, although a local USINT employee tried to sign up for an account at a hotel on June 17 and received a message from Facebook that he was "ineligible to sign up."

---------------- INSPIRED BY IRAN ----------------

4. (C) At the same time, Cuban bloggers are paying close attention to current events in Iran, in particular the use of social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and mobile phones to inform and influence domestic and international opinion. Yoani Sanchez wrote in her blog on June 17 that what is

HAVANA 00000361 002.2 OF 002

happening in Iran and its dissemination through the Internet is a lesson for Cuban bloggers. Sanchez told us separately that the use of mobile phones (including iphones) to transmit information, share blogs, and even access the internet is a significant and growing phenomenon in Cuba. As a great source of information hidden by the official press, she also praised the new service called "Granpa" (www.granpa.info) that sends news articles to Cuban mobile phones via SMS text messages (Note: USINT staff have since signed up for this service and receive several articles a day. As of yet, neither we nor our contacts know who runs Granpa. End Note.) She lamented, however, that Cuba was clearly not yet at the same level of connectivity as Iranian society.

5. (SBU) Cuban dissidents are also following developments in the cyber community. Well known dissident Oswaldo Paya published, through the blog Bitacora, a message of solidarity with the Cuban blogger community in early June. Paya urged bloggers to "be the voice of those who have no blog" and congratulated them for "this initiative to proclaim the people's right to the internet and for their courage in the struggle for the liberation of truth, which is imprisoned in Cuba."

--------------------------- COMMENTS AND ACTION REQUEST ---------------------------

6. (C) The Cuban government continues to see the internet as a threat and remains committed to restricting and controlling access. Internet communication and social networking sites are becoming more and more popular in Cuba as a means of communicating across the island and accessing family, friends, and information from off the island. This new media is important not just for increasing people-to-people contact, but also for helping Cubans share their stories and as a way to inform, organize, and mobilize civil society. ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department assistance in removing any regulatory obstacles that limit Cuban access to free internet communications without jeopardizing national security.

7. (C) Cuban state telecommunications monopoly ETESCA announced earlier this year that it hopes to add 250,000 new mobile phone users in 2009, which is nearly twice as many new subscribers as in 2008 and a 50 percent increase over the current total (about 470,000). We hear that within days ETECSA may announce a significant drop in prices for initiating service and making international calls in an effort to capture more hard currency. In this context, a liberal implementation of the changes in U.S. policy announced on April 13 regarding telecommunications may help facilitate Iran-style democratic ferment in Cuba. FARRAR







It does not say that among the US population the sanctions against Cuba are overwhelmingly unpopular. Those in positions of power in the US just want to oppress and somehow get rid of the existing Cuban government, even if they do so by hurting innocent civilians (collateral damage). It is actually part of the strategy, as by making the population upset they hope to incite the population against the government and perhaps overthrow it without outside intervention.

Recent Techrights' Posts

EPO Examiners Point Out to the Heads of Delegations in the Administrative Council of the EPO That the "AI Policy" of the Office is Illegal
"the Central Staff Committee (CSC) asks the Administrative Council to exert its supervisory role and instruct EPO management to enter into genuine dialogue with the staff representation on the AI Policy, to revise the “Leverage AI” target of 90% AI-automated classification in the SP2028 and to put in place the measures supported by staff in the resolution."
French Cities Dumping Microsoft Because They Recognise Software Freedom, Open Standards, GNU/Linux Autonomy
We hope that more French cities - maybe Paris - will follow Lyon.
LWN is a Voice of GAFAM (Through Linux Foundation, Their Front Group or Occupying Force Inside Linux)
remember who the chief editor works for and who sponsors many of the articles
The 'Case' of the Serial Strangler From Microsoft is a Lot of Copypasta (Maybe Also LLM Slop) From the Matthew Garrett 'Case'
5RB deserves to know and the matter shall be properly reported in due course (when the time is right)
EPO Squeezing the Staff - Part II - Office Breaks Rules, Ignores Courts, Defies Justice
False promises everywhere
IBM - Like Microsoft - is a Dying Company and Perishing Brand ("AI" is a Lie and Decoy)
"Arvind is cutting costs (layoffs, PIPs, forced RTO, etc...) like crazy. IBM offices are closing all over the place in the US."
"Code of Conduct" Invoked When Fedora and Red Hat Users (Since the 1990s) Don't Want to Use Wayland
That is IBM "DEI"
Microsoft Layoffs Next Week: About 10% to be Laid Off in Microsoft Gaming (2 Days Before Independence Day), About 20%+ of XBox Staff
Microsoft is rapidly collapsing
 
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, June 26, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, June 26, 2025
The Netherlands: GNU/Linux Measured at All-Time High
Are any Dutch cities going to announce dumping Microsoft?
Gemini Links 27/06/2025: "Interstitial Existence" and Autocorrect
Links for the day
Keeping Things Accessible
Gemini Protocol seems to be growing
Technical People Need Technical Lawyers
Technical Litigants in Person (LIPs) have many real and concrete advantages
10,000+ Articles in About 20 Months (and How We Got Here)
More bloat does not beget efficiency and "bells and whistles" tend to have a hidden cost
Links 26/06/2025: Illegal Kangaroo Court (UPC) Failing Scandinavia, K-Pop Agencies Abuse People
Links for the day
Gemini Links 26/06/2025: AuraGem Twitch Proxy is Back and UI Sluggishness
Links for the day
Links 26/06/2025: Noise Pollution Considered High in Europe, Mass Layoffs Next Week in Microsoft Confirmed, Very Large in Scale and Scope
Links for the day
No, I Don't Want Your Latest XYZ, ThankYouVeryMuch...
Wayland is finally ready?
China Keeps Breaking Into Microsoft Systems, So for True Sovereignty, Nations Wary of China Need to Dump Microsoft
Looking at data from Taiwan (not China) and Maharlika (not Philippines, the king is dead and Spain is out), there are encouraging signs
Linux Journal Wants Ads on Its LLM Slop or Ads as 'Articles'
it's basically another BetaNews
How to Kill a Monopoly
in 10 simple steps
Mozambique: GNU/Linux Rose From 0.5% Last Year to 3% This Year
what (or how) statCounter is measuring
Next Month Marks 11 Years Since Our In-Depth EPO Coverage
The same is happening to Microsoft right now
Free Software Foundation (FSF) Campaigns Against Vista 11, Adds 4 New Associate Members Per Day
If more people understood the underlying principles, more of them would flock to Free software overnight
Canonical Seems to Have Culled Some Sources of LLM Slop From Planet Ubuntu
It's like "junk food", it's not information
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
IRC logs for Wednesday, June 25, 2025
On "Weak Claims"
For the record, they sent me unjustified threats, repeatedly tried injunctions (censorship)
EPO Squeezing the Staff - Part I - Burnout and Family Health
more exceptional circumstances
This Month's Mail (MX) Server Survey Shows Microsoft at 0.20% "Market Share"
We need to remind people that desktops and laptops decline (in proportion to other client devices) and at the "back end" GNU/Linux is already dominant and has long been dominant
Links 26/06/2025: Filespooler Guide and Learning to Code
Links for the day
Why Techrights Cannot be Vilified (and Instead It Gets SLAPPed Repeatedly by Microsoft People)
Attack dogs are all "bark"; because they have no actual "bite"
Austrian GNU/Linux Usage Up to About 5% as More of Europe Abandons Microsoft
Since inauguration day the Austrian people have adopted more and more of GNU/Linux
Why the "Wayland People" and "Rust People" Will Lose Hearts and Minds (Same Reasons)
Wayland pushers are fast becoming like "Rust People"
5,600 Pages/Articles Per Year
So far this year we've kept all the promises
BetaNews Beginning to Show What Its True Goals Are
The 'new' BetaNews won't be about journalism. It's trying to sell things.
Microsoft Has Lost "The War"
We'll soon see the 9th or 10th wave of Microsoft layoffs in 2025 alone
Slopwatch: A Wreck and a Dreck, "Flooding the Zone With Dreck" or Flooding the Web With Junk
"Slopwatch" continues today because we have many new examples
Links 25/06/2025: Thwarting More Software Patents, Overlap Grows Between EPO Corruption and Illegal Kangaroo Patent Courts in EU
Links for the day
Links 25/06/2025: Elon Musk’s Lawyers Caught Lying, WhatsApp Faces More Bans
Links for the day
Wayland Pushers Lose the Argument, Use LLM Slop and Chatbots to Make Up Arguments for IBM
Another new low and low blow
Brian Fagioli Created Another Slopfarm Targeting "Linux" After BetaNews Became a Slopfarm of Phantom Accounts and Pseudonyms
Mr. Fagioli even had slop about a dead Torvalds (hypothetical) as clickbait
Wayland is Perfect, Nobody Can Escape Its Perfection! (Or Not)
Do not form on opinion on Wayland based on politics
What is "MATA"?
Think of it as GAFAM or "Meta"
Moral Duty for "Linux Sites" to Speak Out Against LLM Slop
My wife has long complained about "Linux bloggers" keeping quiet and thus passive about a growing problem: slop
In Recent Hours Google News Promoted at Least 3 Slopfarms That Relayed Linux Foundation Propaganda Made by Bots or LLM "Bullshit Generators" (as Dr. Stallman Dubbed Them)
Google is circling down the drain and Google News too is hopeless
Linux Journal is a Slopfarm, It's Experimenting With LLM 'Authors'
Is Slashdot next?
WebProNews is a Slopfarm
Please avoid linking to WebProNews
Microsoft LinkedIn is Dying and Many More Layoffs Are on the Way
LinkedIn is just a failed acquisition of Microsoft. It causes losses and debt.
Gemini Links 25/06/2025: Combinatorial Music and Self Hosting
Links for the day
Richard Stallman Coming Back to Europe This Autumn to Give More Talks
His last talk in Europe attracted about 400-450 people
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Social Control Media, Technology & Catholicism: Synod on Synodality review and feedback
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
How Many More Women Will Managers at Microsoft Strangle and Tell to Kill Themselves (or Try to Kill)?
The world needs to know what happened
The New BetaNews: 7 New 'Articles', All of Them LLM Slop
BetaNews is basically defunct. Nobody writes there anymore.
Another "Told You So!": XBox Mass Layoffs at Microsoft (Many Recent Reports Were Chaff and Spin), Many Other Divisions Affected
With mass layoffs at Microsoft the world would be much better