The president of the Telecommunications Company (ETECSA), Tania Velázquez, defended this Wednesday the use of applications developed in Cuba, like toDus, to facilitate communication among students, amid a growing wave of discontent over internet access restrictions and the new rates imposed by the state company.
During his appearance on the television program Mesa Redonda, Velázquez stated that there is a group of applications created in Cuba that offer a differentiated pricing structure for their services, which would facilitate communication for students.
In particular, the national messaging service toDus was highlighted, an application developed by the University of Informatics Sciences (UCI), which has been promoted by the Cuban government as a low-cost alternative for users.
“In recent days, attention has shifted to toDus, and there is user interest. There are Cuban entities that will migrate their contact groups to the app because we are going to make it more affordable. We have a plan for 25 CUP, with reasonable prices, an offer of 600 MB for file sharing, and messaging is free,” the official assured.
Smiling, he added: "We urge that it become one of the means incorporated into the processes of communication among students, teachers, and the entire Cuban education system."
The persistent call for the use of toDus occurs on the same day that students from the University of Havana began an academic strike, which has since spread to other educational institutions across the country in response to the new ETECSA rates.
The president promotes toDus as a low-cost application, but various experts and activists have raised alarms about its potential for user surveillance.
Unlike other messaging platforms, toDus requires a Cuban phone line to operate, and all communications can be stored on state servers, including traces, connection times, and user activity.
The official page promises not to share user data “to the extent permitted by law”. This ambiguous wording leaves open the possibility of state surveillance.
An internal source from the UCI, consulted by CiberCuba, assured that the app stores records and therefore user privacy is far from guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions about the use of the toDus app and ETECSA's measures in Cuba
What is the toDus application and why does ETECSA promote it?
ToDus is a messaging application developed in Cuba by the University of Computer Sciences (UCI). The president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez, promotes its use as a low-cost alternative to facilitate communication among students, especially in the context of dissatisfaction with the new internet rates. It is offered with a plan of 25 CUP, which includes 600 MB for file sharing and free messaging. However, there are concerns about potential privacy issues and state surveillance through the application.
Why has ETECSA limited the use of top-ups in Cuban pesos (CUP)?
ETECSA has limited top-ups in CUP to a maximum of 360 CUP per month, forcing users to choose larger data packages in US dollars. This is due to the need to inject foreign currency into the company, which is facing a financial crisis and high levels of debt. The measures have been criticized for excluding those who do not have access to foreign currencies, creating inequality in access to communication services.
What implications does the use of toDus have for user privacy?
There are concerns about privacy and state surveillance in the use of the toDus app. Although it is promised that the data will not be shared "to the extent permitted by law," this ambiguous phrasing leaves open the possibility that communications may be monitored. Experts have warned about the state's ability to store and access users' communications.
How has the Cuban population reacted to the new rates from ETECSA?
The Cuban population has reacted with indignation to the new ETECSA rates, considering that these measures exacerbate economic inequality. The restrictions on the use of CUP and the promotion of packages in dollars have been seen as a form of digital exclusion, especially for those who do not receive remittances from abroad. This has led to protests and criticism on social media.
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