A bomb threat, a deadly disease of unknown origin, or limitations on access to passports were all headlines about Cuba in 2022, but none of these events happened
Havana, Jan 3 (RHC) A bomb threat, a deadly disease of unknown origin, or limitations on access to passports were all headlines about Cuba in 2022, but none of these events happened.
Disinformation, fake news, or the popularly called "bola", were common phenomena in the Cuban media scene last year, sometimes as part of hybrid warfare operations against the Revolution and others in the interest of gaining audiences of certain profiles in social networks.
A triangulated search in several Internet search engines and Prensa Latina's social networks found the following among the fake news and disinformation campaigns with the greatest impact in Cuba and about Cuba:
- Cockroach milk: in March 2022 the digital portal of Radio Guamá published a curiosity about the existence of milk extracted from the cockroach with nutritional values. Several media, some of which had previously published the same news, used misleading headlines arguing that the Cuban media proposed consuming cockroach milk due to the scarcity of food on the island. Radio Guamá published a explanation but the topic was already viral.
- Bomb in a Havana hotel: In May 2022 a call was made to the Tulipán hotel in Havana with a bomb threat. Within minutes, several media based in Florida, United States, gave the scoop and claimed to have other evidence, which indicated that it was constructed news, almost in parallel with the call intentionally aimed at unleashing panic.
- Sanitary restrictions: Faced with the increase in the infestation rates of Covid-19 or dengue or the appearance of new diseases such as smallpox and infantile hepatitis of unknown origin, false news circulated announcing new measures of confinement, restrictions or calling for children to stay away from schools.
- Freely Convertible Currency (MLC) Market: since January 2022, the Central Bank of Cuba has periodically published informative notes denying alleged changes in the foreign exchange market in the country. The news also includes the alleged charge in MLC for services and procedures to Cubans.
- Popular demonstrations: In October, economic tensions and the subjection to a disinformation campaign, and encouragement to social indiscipline provoked demonstrations by neighbors in Cuban towns, where the authorities went to listen to their demands and offer answers and solutions.
When these actions were diminishing, videos and photos of alleged massive acts of disobedience and confrontation with the authorities, which in reality belonged to other countries and contexts, began to circulate in social networks.
- Family Code: Although finally approved in a popular referendum, the new Family Code suffered attacks, such as that children would be separated from their parents in the interest of the State or women of reproductive age would be forced to become pregnant.
- Blackouts: Restrictions on access to fuel and spare parts deteriorated the national electric power system, resulting in blackouts throughout the country. Fake news aimed at spreading everything from fictitious plans for power outages to the alleged flight of government leaders from the country.
Not surprisingly, 2023 will see an increase in disinformation and fake news in and about Cuba. Greater access to the Internet and the incipient degree of development of legislation and education of audiences on the subject will shape that scenario.
There will always be the option of denial because as the saying goes, a lie has short legs but, according to several studies, false information spreads significantly farther, faster, deeper, and wider than true information.
