Christian activist David Espinosa, aged 38, reported on Saturday that the Cuban regime has selectively disconnected his ETECSA phone line, despite it being active and paid for. The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (ICLEP) described this as a sustained disruption aimed at silencing his public activities.
The shutdown happened after Espinosa was detained on Thursday while attempting to attend the trial of influencer Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente (Anna Bensi) and her mother, Caridad Silvente, at Havana's East Municipal People's Court. Regime operatives took him to the La Lisa police station to prevent his attendance at the court.
In a video released on Saturday, Espinosa expressed that he had been unable to make or receive calls, send text messages, or use mobile data normally for three days. When family members tried to reach him, they were met with automated messages stating, “The mobile you are calling is off or out of coverage.” From another number, the message changed to, “The number you are calling is not reachable.”
Communication Blockade and Its Implications
"I can't call anyone, and no one can call me, neither via SMS nor regular call," the activist stated in the footage. To counter ETECSA's claim that the issue was due to his physical device, Espinosa inserted a different SIM card into his phone and successfully made calls, while his personal number remained out of reach. "My line is not right," he asserted, demanding a resolution from the state telecommunications company.
The situation further impacted WhatsApp; most outgoing messages remained undelivered. Espinosa speculated that a selective filter might be imposed on his communications.
ICLEP logged this incident under “limitations in the digital space” and concluded it represents a "sustained and selective service cut impacting his phone and digital communications." The organization highlighted this occurrence as part of a pattern of restrictions targeting activists and independent journalists in Cuba.
Repeated Patterns of Repression
This incident is not isolated. Between April 22 and 23, ETECSA simultaneously deactivated the lines of Espinosa, his wife Laidy García, Anna Bensi, and her mother within three minutes. Hours later, Anna Bensi's WhatsApp was deactivated again that very night. Espinosa reported from an alternative connection, "I'm connected via hotspot. This needs to be said too."
Espinosa also linked his situation to that of Anna Bensi and her mother, who were sentenced to two years of restricted freedom on that Thursday for recording and publishing a visit by a MININT officer to their home. "This isn't the first time someone has been targeted like this," Espinosa remarked, referencing the restrictions faced by both activists.
On the same day, evangelical pastor Rolando Fidel Pérez Lora, known as "Christ's Town Crier," was arrested for the third time this year while heading to court to support Anna Bensi. Cubalex documented at least four arrests during the operation surrounding the trial.
Standing Against Censorship
Espinosa, who had been summoned by MININT at least five times before the trial, including an April call alongside his wife under the guise of an "interview about possible illegality," dismissed any justification for his line's blockade: "All I do is speak the truth on my social networks."
ICLEP called on ETECSA to immediately restore the service and urged Cuban authorities to cease selective communication cuts against activists and independent journalists. Espinosa, meanwhile, announced his intentions to personally visit the state company's offices to demand the reinstatement of the services he has paid for: "I won't stay silent this time."
Understanding the Cuban Regime's Communication Tactics
Why was David Espinosa's phone line cut off?
David Espinosa's phone line was disconnected as part of a targeted effort by the Cuban regime to suppress his activism and public expressions. This tactic is commonly used against activists and independent journalists in Cuba.
What is ETECSA's role in this issue?
ETECSA, the state-owned telecommunications company, is responsible for the communication services in Cuba. It has been accused of selectively cutting off lines of activists and journalists under government directives.
How did Espinosa demonstrate that the issue was not with his phone?
Espinosa proved that the issue wasn't with his device by inserting another SIM card into his phone, which allowed him to make calls normally, while his own number remained unreachable.