Amidst widespread public backlash against the price hikes imposed by the state-run ETECSA and the regime's persistent calls to use national platforms to "save data," exiled Cuban activist Magdiel Jorge Castro posed a question that many silently ponder: Would toDus share its users' private data if demanded by State Security?
The controversy ignited on the social media platform X when Castro publicly challenged the Cuban messaging service with this pointed inquiry: "What will happen when State Security decides to ask you for information on a specific user and their messages... will you refuse? Will you deny them access to your database? I await your response patiently."
To the surprise of many, the official account of toDus responded, leaving no room for doubt: "Any country can request access to any platform if it affects national security; I don't see the problem with that. Besides being Cuban, it is subject to Cuban laws. But I still ask: Who has been spied on, and what has been spied on?"
This blunt and unapologetic admission from toDus did not go unanswered. The activist fired back on X: "In any other country, citizens aren't investigated for thinking differently or for opposing the government... but in Cuba, they are."
He further asserted, "Tomorrow, the G2 might come asking for an opponent's private messages, and you will grant them access... It's that simple; you're not trustworthy."
His statement reignited the debate over the lack of trust in Cuba's state-controlled tech platforms. Castro ended the discussion with a stark warning to users: "Be wary of toDus... your private data will remain safe until the regime decides to ask the administrators for it. It's that straightforward... you aren't spied on until they choose to do so."
His powerful message encapsulates a fear shared by many in Cuba: that the so-called digital sovereignty is merely an extension of the state's surveillance apparatus.
Numerous warnings about the toDus app have raised concerns regarding its true purpose, beyond being a mere messaging tool. Users and activists have indicated that installing it is akin to allowing the Cuban government's surveillance machinery to infiltrate citizens' personal devices.
Despite being marketed as a national solution for communication without relying on foreign services, multiple analyses suggest that it may function as a tool of control disguised as sovereign technology.
In this context, state-run ETECSA not only supports the app but also promotes it as a preferred communication method within the country, highlighting what everyone knows: the company serves as a repressive instrument of the regime. These maneuvers align with a reality the regime itself has not hidden. In past statements, the Cuban leader acknowledged the existence of a state surveillance system. Such admission confirms that surveillance is not speculation, but a policy in practice, now finding a new means of execution through government-controlled tech platforms.
Concerns Over User Privacy and State Surveillance
What is the main concern about toDus sharing user data?
The primary concern is that toDus, being subject to Cuban laws, may be compelled to share user data with State Security if requested, thus compromising user privacy and trust.
How does toDus justify potentially sharing user information?
toDus claims that any country can request access to platforms for national security reasons, and as a Cuban entity, it is governed by Cuban laws, which may require compliance with such requests.
What are the implications of using toDus in Cuba?
Using toDus could potentially expose users to state surveillance, as it may act as a tool of control under the guise of national communication technology.