Open Source Blog

“Communications Minister Ramiro Valdes, an old comrade-in-arms of President Fidel Castro, raised suspicions about Microsoft's cooperation with U.S. military and intelligence agencies as he opened a technology conference this week,” the reports says.

“He called the world's information systems a ‘battlefield’ where Cuba is fighting against imperialism. He also noted that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates once described copyright reformers - including people who want to do away with proprietary software - as 'some new modern-day sort of communists' - which is a badge of honor from the Cuban perspective.”

The move to open source software also makes sense given Cuba’s unique geopolitical position.

“Cuba also has trouble keeping proprietary software current. Its sluggish satellite link to the outside world makes downloads of updates agonizingly slow. And U.S. companies, apparently worried about American laws restricting trade with Cuba, are increasingly blocking downloads to the island.”

The country’s customs service is already running Linux, according to the report, while the ministries of culture, higher education and communications and the ministry of higher education will follow.

It is no coincidence, of course, that the FSF’s Richard Stallman happened to be in town at a conference talking up free software.