considerable self-censorship, particularly in
Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela.
4
Because of threats from local drug cartels or
other gangs and individuals, many journalists
practice self-censorship, 5 including many in
Colombia who avoid reporting on corruption,
drug trafficking, or violence by armed groups.
Drug gangs waging a campaign of intimidation in
Mexico not only tack notes to corpses and publish newspaper ads, but have also posted a
video on YouTube where an alleged Zeta member
(a group of cartel operatives) is tortured and
decapitated. 6 The few Cubans who gain access
to the Internet are limited by extensive monitoring
and excessive penalties for political dissent,
leading to a climate of self-censorship.
Internet in Latin America
Most countries in Latin America recognize the
value of the Internet as an integral part of modern
life. For example, numerous groups in Chile have
recommended legislation to make access to the
Internet a right, alongside access to clean water
and shelter. 7 However, the high value placed on
Internet access has not in fact resulted in uniformly unfettered access. Although the Cuban
government declared Internet access a “fundamental right” of the Cuban people, 8 all Internet
access there requires government authorization
and oversight by the Cuban Ministry of Computer
Technology and Communications. 9
While estimates vary, the regional penetration rate appears to be approximately 12 percent. 10 More than half of the Internet users in
Latin America are in Brazil and Mexico, though
Jamaica, Chile, and Argentina have the highest
penetration rates (at 44 percent, 34 percent, and
26 percent, respectively). 11 Penetration rates in
Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico are clustered close
to 17 percent. In Bolivia, only one person in twenty is connected, and in Cuba less than one person in fifty. 12 In 2004 Cuba had the lowest penetration rate in the region, trailing even Nicaragua
(2.3 percent) and Paraguay (2.5 percent). 13
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile are also the
leaders in high-speed Internet access, accounting for 90 percent of all broadband subscribers in
2006 and forming the top four markets for ADSL
in the region. 14 Despite the region’s low Internet
penetration, fixed line and mobile phone subscription continues to grow at an annual rate of
50 percent. 15
In countries such as Argentina, Chile, and
Colombia the process of deregulation has led to
a surge in more affordable and increasingly popular services such as voice over Internet protocol
(VoIP). Nominally the Cuban Internet service
provider (ISP) market was fully competitive by
2000, 16 in contrast to the monopolies in the various telephone, data, and television markets.
17
However, all ISPs remain under government control and oversight; of the ISPs, only CENIAI provides personal internet access to Cuban citizens. 18
Physical, legal, and economic limits on
access to the Internet can constitute the most
significant form of governmental control. The
Cuban government strongly restricts not only private ownership of computer hardware, 19 but also
many public access points to Cuban intranets.
20
In addition to the state prohibition of private computer sales, the Cuban police have also confiscated existing private computers and modems. 21
The lack of private resources forces most
Cubans to use public access points, which may
allow access only to national e-mail and Cuban
intranets. 22 In Venezuela, Internet use is concentrated among young, male, educated city residents, with more than 60 percent of users coming from Caracas and all but the lowest income
sector represented. 23 Despite programs promoting Internet use by poor and rural Venezuelans,
access for 60 percent of the population remains
essentially nonexistent, and basic public education does not incorporate Internet technologies. 24
At the same time, many governments in
Latin America have committed to investing in
expanded public access points and creating
198
Regional Overviews
Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela.
4
Because of threats from local drug cartels or
other gangs and individuals, many journalists
practice self-censorship, 5 including many in
Colombia who avoid reporting on corruption,
drug trafficking, or violence by armed groups.
Drug gangs waging a campaign of intimidation in
Mexico not only tack notes to corpses and publish newspaper ads, but have also posted a
video on YouTube where an alleged Zeta member
(a group of cartel operatives) is tortured and
decapitated. 6 The few Cubans who gain access
to the Internet are limited by extensive monitoring
and excessive penalties for political dissent,
leading to a climate of self-censorship.
Internet in Latin America
Most countries in Latin America recognize the
value of the Internet as an integral part of modern
life. For example, numerous groups in Chile have
recommended legislation to make access to the
Internet a right, alongside access to clean water
and shelter. 7 However, the high value placed on
Internet access has not in fact resulted in uniformly unfettered access. Although the Cuban
government declared Internet access a “fundamental right” of the Cuban people, 8 all Internet
access there requires government authorization
and oversight by the Cuban Ministry of Computer
Technology and Communications. 9
While estimates vary, the regional penetration rate appears to be approximately 12 percent. 10 More than half of the Internet users in
Latin America are in Brazil and Mexico, though
Jamaica, Chile, and Argentina have the highest
penetration rates (at 44 percent, 34 percent, and
26 percent, respectively). 11 Penetration rates in
Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico are clustered close
to 17 percent. In Bolivia, only one person in twenty is connected, and in Cuba less than one person in fifty. 12 In 2004 Cuba had the lowest penetration rate in the region, trailing even Nicaragua
(2.3 percent) and Paraguay (2.5 percent). 13
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile are also the
leaders in high-speed Internet access, accounting for 90 percent of all broadband subscribers in
2006 and forming the top four markets for ADSL
in the region. 14 Despite the region’s low Internet
penetration, fixed line and mobile phone subscription continues to grow at an annual rate of
50 percent. 15
In countries such as Argentina, Chile, and
Colombia the process of deregulation has led to
a surge in more affordable and increasingly popular services such as voice over Internet protocol
(VoIP). Nominally the Cuban Internet service
provider (ISP) market was fully competitive by
2000, 16 in contrast to the monopolies in the various telephone, data, and television markets.
17
However, all ISPs remain under government control and oversight; of the ISPs, only CENIAI provides personal internet access to Cuban citizens. 18
Physical, legal, and economic limits on
access to the Internet can constitute the most
significant form of governmental control. The
Cuban government strongly restricts not only private ownership of computer hardware, 19 but also
many public access points to Cuban intranets.
20
In addition to the state prohibition of private computer sales, the Cuban police have also confiscated existing private computers and modems. 21
The lack of private resources forces most
Cubans to use public access points, which may
allow access only to national e-mail and Cuban
intranets. 22 In Venezuela, Internet use is concentrated among young, male, educated city residents, with more than 60 percent of users coming from Caracas and all but the lowest income
sector represented. 23 Despite programs promoting Internet use by poor and rural Venezuelans,
access for 60 percent of the population remains
essentially nonexistent, and basic public education does not incorporate Internet technologies. 24
At the same time, many governments in
Latin America have committed to investing in
expanded public access points and creating
198
Regional Overviews