The Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA) announced this Friday a new set of measures that severely limits the use of the Cuban peso (CUP) for mobile top-ups and promotes, instead, data packages in US dollars.
In light of the decision, ETECSA officials have promoted national browsing and platforms such as ToDus, email, and other educational tools that "do not consume data."
However, ToDus, the Cuban WhatsApp designed by the University of Computer Sciences of Cuba, might be a surveillance tool from your own mobile phone.
The application functions similarly to others available in the market. To operate, it requires a mobile phone with a Cuban line; otherwise, verification cannot be completed.
ETECSA, to encourage its use among Cubans, assured that it would not charge its users for data usage resulting from its employment. In other words, sending a message or a photo through it was announced as a free operation.
The main reason behind this could be espionage. Just as is the case today with calls, SMS, web browsing, or emails, all communications made using this platform are available for the inquisitive eye to probe into at will.
Although many use the app to send inconsequential messages, it is important to limit its access to the camera, microphone, files and other areas of your phone that you want to keep private.
On the application's own page todus.cu, it states about privacy in the section on terms and conditions: "We will not share User data with third parties beyond the limits permitted by law."
However, the ambiguity of the clause leaves the interpretation open regarding the terms that the law permits.
The director of networks at UCI, Yadier Perdomo, assured after the launch of the application that messages are encrypted and not stored on servers, but only on the phones of the sender and receiver.
But that assertion was refuted by a source we consulted within the UCI, who stated that all information can be archived and used at some point. "The servers store logs, traces, connection times, and user activity," he explained.
Frequently asked questions about the ToDus application and ETECSA's measures
Why is it considered that the ToDus app could be a surveillance tool?
The ToDus application, promoted by ETECSA, could be used for espionage as all communications made through it are available for government inspection. Although it is claimed that messages are sent encrypted, there are indications that user logs and activities may be stored on the servers.
What are the new restrictions for mobile top-ups in Cuban pesos (CUP)?
ETECSA has limited mobile top-ups in CUP to a maximum of 360 pesos per month. This restriction hampers internet access for many Cubans, forcing them to rely on plans in US dollars, which are only accessible to those who have access to foreign currency.
What are the implications of dollarization of mobile services in Cuba?
The dollarization of mobile service in Cuba deepens economic inequality and limits connectivity for a large part of the population that does not have access to foreign currencies. Dollar plans promote Internet access as a privilege for those receiving remittances, consolidating a monetary duality in an essential service.
What measures has ETECSA taken to justify the restriction on top-ups in CUP?
ETECSA argues that the restrictions are necessary to sustain and develop the telecommunications network. However, this justification has been criticized by many users who believe that it does not align with the quality of service offered, and that the measures are a way to obtain revenue in foreign currency at the expense of citizens' connectivity.
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