Cuba's Leader Díaz-Canel Vows to Conquer Social Media: "We Will Fight to Win"

The Cuban ruler, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has declared that the regime is ready to embrace the challenge posed by social media platforms—tools they once ignored. Now, they view these platforms as a new battleground for political discourse. "We've accepted the challenge. We will fight on social media, and we will fight to win," stated Díaz-Canel during an interview aired this week on the "Presidencia Cuba" YouTube channel. The discussion took place with four Spanish journalists at the "Patria" Colloquium in Havana.

His remarks were laced with antagonism towards the United States, as he claimed that Cuba is facing a "media war" and that the regime is prepared to engage in digital combat. "There are new weapons and trenches now, and social media is one of them," he insisted. "If we are to fight, it's because we have people ready to do it, and this requires us to consider various factors."

Among these factors is the "conscious" participation of those who join this "fight," whom he urges to be "patriots" with a "connection to Cuba's identity and history." He emphasized that the Cuban regime is focusing on young people, who are more adept with new technologies, and is relying on "the training of Cuban revolutionaries who are active on social media."

Díaz-Canel Admits Lag in Digital Presence

The Cuban leader acknowledged that his government was slow to react to the rise of social media, identifying the historic protests of July 11, 2021, as a pivotal moment. He described these protests as a "massive media operation." "We were late to social media. In fact, they orchestrated a nationwide protest on July 11 with a huge media operation. At that time, we were barely on social media," he conceded.

According to Díaz-Canel, this popular uprising—the largest Cuba has experienced in over sixty years—offered lessons. "We gained experience from the overwhelming amount of hate messages during the 11J. We learned, and now we have a revolutionary network presence."

The strategy to "win the battle on social media" includes several facets, with a notable focus on training young people in new technologies and political communication. However, he admitted that Cuba's numerous challenges might delay immediate results. "We are undergoing a digital transformation and enhancing political communication, but the accumulated problems are so vast that short-term results are unlikely."

For months, Díaz-Canel has emphasized the strategic importance of advancing artificial intelligence and maintaining an active presence on social media. Recently, it was announced that Cuba signed an agreement with Russia to establish an artificial intelligence lab. While the government has not disclosed details, some experts warn that the outcomes could be used to enhance control over users and bolster the regime's political messaging on social platforms.

"The platforms are generally against us, but we must be present with our content. Fidel Castro foresaw this," Díaz-Canel stated. Aware of the ground lost, he is attempting to reposition himself in a domain he cannot control but seeks to influence immediately.

"Accepting the challenge" in the social media arena is not optional for the regime. Miguel Díaz-Canel understands that he's compelled to fight in this space, under rules his government cannot dictate, unlike the control exerted over traditional media such as Cuban radio and television for decades.