Cuban Government Toughens Internet Restrictions

edibleplastic writes "The BBC is reporting that the Cuban government is cutting off much of its citizens' access to the internet. 'The move clamps down on the thousands of Cubans who illegally access the internet from their homes. From now on, it will not be possible to dial up the main government server from most domestic phone lines. Only lines which are paid for in dollars will have direct access. These are usually restricted to foreigners. Amnesty International says this is an attempt to shield Cubans from alternative views.'" This is a good time to revisit two earlier stories about Cuba's attitude toward modern communications.

Re:what's cuba like?

[Anonymous Coward]

So, arguably, the average American, Cuban, whoever, may equally not care as their rights are taken away. I guess what marks Americans is that Americans feel they have to impose their values on others... and they have a long history of doing so

No, what marks is Americans is that Americans feel that the people should have their own values. This is part of why the U.S. is so anti-imperialist. Cuba to this day lives under a Soviet colonial system that was imposed by the now-departed USSR. The Cubans are not allowed to have their own values.

I mean, if Fidel were to suddenly wage an all out war against a country who didn't attack Cuba because Fidel wanted better control of its resources and was afraid, wetting his pants with fear... would Cubans care then? Would they?

Castro did this several times. Angola was fighting for independence, but Castro sent troops to put them down. He also engaged war against Nicaragua and El Salvador.

Re:Why they need dollars

[Distinguished Hero]

The Soviet Union broke up without its citizens using the internet, China has embraced capitalism not due to the internet, the Berlin Wall fell in no part due to the internet. Infact as the internet has become so wide spread it has had little value-added effect other communication didn't already have in developing countries.

Just because certain events occurred without certain "amenities" in the past does not mean that those "amenities" would not have helped.
Just because some people cannot find a better use for the interned than looking at pr0n does not mean that others cannot use the internet to better their societies. While some people spend their time on Slashdot posting about what other people could live without, greater people are using the internet to attempt to bring about social change, and are getting arrested for it [rsf.org]. If oppressive governments fear that the Internet could weaken their grip on their population enough that they are taking steps to restrict, who are you to say differently. Sure, social change can occur without the Internet, but it can occur much faster and better with it.
By the way, China has far from "embraced" capitalism.