Cuban State Security Accused of Spreading Misinformation Against elTOQUE

The independent media outlet elTOQUE has raised alarms about a recent misinformation campaign allegedly orchestrated by Cuban State Security. They reported that a manipulated audio, created with artificial intelligence, falsely implicates their editor-in-chief, José Jasán Nieves Cárdenas, in supposed financial deals to influence the informal market exchange rates. According to elTOQUE, this is a new tactic by the Cuban regime to spread misinformation.

In a statement on Facebook, elTOQUE clarified that the audio, made using manipulation technologies, offers no legitimate evidence of any such deals, but rather highlights the Communist Party's strategy to discredit the outlet amidst a severe economic crisis and dwindling political legitimacy. Nieves reminded followers that this tactic is not unprecedented. In 2024, the regime attempted a similar ploy involving a so-called "German businessman" trying to entangle the editorial team in financial shenanigans.

"They had to wait a year, but finally resorted to the trick they tried last year," Nieves commented on Facebook. "Better this way, now it's clear that their agent in Germany was aiming for this."

Public Reaction and Criticism

The manipulated audio quickly sparked reactions on social media. Users criticized the Cuban State Security's maneuver, questioning why the government doesn't stabilize the currency through official channels like Cadecas, instead of blaming an independent media outlet for the peso's devaluation. Others labeled the operation as a sign of desperation. "All they have left is fabricating scenarios to divert attention," commented one user, while another pointed out that elTOQUE is now seen as a more reliable source than any government spokesperson.

There was also condemnation of the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate audio, with some calling it a clear sign of the regime's moral decay. "They no longer respect the art of defamation; now they rely on crude edits that no one believes," another commentator remarked.

A Continuing Offensive

The campaign against elTOQUE is part of a sustained attack on the media outlet. In July, elTOQUE responded to accusations from Cubadebate and teleSUR, which claimed the outlet was part of an alleged "economic war" against the government, contributing to inflation on the island. elTOQUE dismissed these allegations, stating they do not engage in currency trading nor manipulate the values they report.

In August 2024, government economist Antonio Rodríguez Salvador claimed on the program "Con Filo" that "elTOQUE induces inflation in Cuba." In May of the same year, Banco Metropolitano accused the outlet of triggering an "induced inflation operation" orchestrated from abroad. The repressive wave against the independent media intensified once the Cuban regime began selling foreign currency officially, aiming to control the informal market exchange rate and rising inflation.

The Role of TRMI in Cuba's Economic Landscape

The Informal Market Representative Rate (TRMI), published daily by elTOQUE, has become an essential tool for millions of Cubans due to the absence of reliable official statistics. Their methodology, which involves analyzing online currency transactions, was validated by the British academic journal Applied Economics. In June, Economy Minister Joaquín Alonso Vázquez used a graph in an official presentation that mirrored the values reported by elTOQUE. Moreover, ETECSA, the state telecom monopoly, recently adjusted its mobile rates using a rate reflecting the informal market price.

Cuban economists, such as Pavel Vidal, emphasize that the TRMI serves as a "real-time thermometer" of the currency crisis, highlighting that neither the informal market nor an informational portal are to blame for Cuba's inflation and monetary collapse. The root cause lies in the centralized model and the government's failed policies.

Beyond the technical debate, elTOQUE has denounced this campaign as an intimidation attempt against its collaborators on the island, who have faced threats under accusations of "mercenarism." The outlet insists that their funding sources do not compromise their editorial independence or their commitment to providing transparent information to the public.

The operation against elTOQUE underscores a repeated pattern: the regime fabricates scenarios and launches accusations without evidence to distract from the crisis, while suppressing those who reveal uncomfortable truths. The real issue for the government isn't a manipulated audio but the reality that millions of Cubans experience daily, which elTOQUE reflects with verifiable data.