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USAID has been used as a mechanism for "hastening transition", i.e. [[regime change]] in Cuba.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/122217408/USAID-DAI-Contract|title=USAID DAI Contract - United States Agency For International Development - Cuba|website=Scribd}}</ref> Between 2009 and 2012, USAID ran a multimillion-dollar program, disguised as humanitarian aid and aimed at inciting rebellion in Cuba. The program consisted of two operations: one to establish an anti-regime [[social network]] called [[ZunZuneo]], and the other to attract potential dissidents contacted by undercover operatives posing as tourists and aid workers.<ref name=TheGuardianCuba>{{cite news|title=USAID programme used young Latin Americans to incite Cuba rebellion|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/usaid-latin-americans-cuba-rebellion-hiv-workshops|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 August 2014|access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="guardian030414">{{cite news |title=US secretly created 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest and undermine government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/03/us-cuban-twitter-zunzuneo-stir-unrest |access-date=30 July 2020 |work=the Guardian |agency=AP |date=3 April 2014 |language=en}}</ref>
USAID has been used as a mechanism for "hastening transition", i.e. [[regime change]] in Cuba.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/122217408/USAID-DAI-Contract|title=USAID DAI Contract - United States Agency For International Development - Cuba|website=Scribd}}</ref> Between 2009 and 2012, USAID ran a multimillion-dollar program, disguised as humanitarian aid and aimed at inciting rebellion in Cuba. The program consisted of two operations: one to establish an anti-regime [[social network]] called [[ZunZuneo]], and the other to attract potential dissidents contacted by undercover operatives posing as tourists and aid workers.<ref name=TheGuardianCuba>{{cite news|title=USAID programme used young Latin Americans to incite Cuba rebellion|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/usaid-latin-americans-cuba-rebellion-hiv-workshops|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 August 2014|access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="guardian030414">{{cite news |title=US secretly created 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest and undermine government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/03/us-cuban-twitter-zunzuneo-stir-unrest |access-date=30 July 2020 |work=the Guardian |agency=AP |date=3 April 2014 |language=en}}</ref>


USAID engineered a subversive program using social media aimed at fueling political unrest in [[Cuba]] to overthrow the Cuban government. On 3 April 2014 the [[Associated Press]] published an investigative report that revealed USAID was behind the creation of a social networking text messaging service aimed at creating political dissent and triggering an uprising against the Cuban government.<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite news|title=US secretly created 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest|url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-cuba-united-states-government-904a9a6a1bcd46cebfc14bea2ee30fdf|access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> The name of the messaging network was ZunZuneo, a Cuban slang term for a hummingbird's tweet and a play on '[[Twitter]]'. According to the AP's report, the plan was to build an audience by initially presenting non-controversial content like sports, music and weather. Once a critical mass of users was reached the US government operators would change the content to spark political dissent and mobilize the users into organized political gatherings called 'smart mobs' that would trigger an uprising against the Cuban government.<ref name="Associated Press"/>
USAID engineered a subversive program using social media aimed at fueling political unrest in [[Cuba]] to overthrow the Cuban government. On 3 April 2014 the Associated Press published an investigative report that revealed USAID was behind the creation of a social networking text messaging service aimed at creating political dissent and triggering an uprising against the Cuban government.<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite news|title=US secretly created 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest|url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-cuba-united-states-government-904a9a6a1bcd46cebfc14bea2ee30fdf|access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> The name of the messaging network was ZunZuneo, a Cuban slang term for a hummingbird's tweet and a play on '[[Twitter]]'. According to the AP's report, the plan was to build an audience by initially presenting non-controversial content like sports, music and weather. Once a critical mass of users was reached the US government operators would change the content to spark political dissent and mobilize the users into organized political gatherings called 'smart mobs' that would trigger an uprising against the Cuban government.<ref name="Associated Press"/>


The messaging service was launched in 2010 and gained 40,000 followers at its peak. Extensive efforts were made to conceal the USAID involvement in the program, using offshore bank accounts, front companies and servers based overseas.<ref>{{cite news|title=White House denies 'Cuban Twitter' ZunZuneo programme was covert
The messaging service was launched in 2010 and gained 40,000 followers at its peak. Extensive efforts were made to conceal the USAID involvement in the program, using offshore bank accounts, front companies and servers based overseas.<ref>{{cite news|title=White House denies 'Cuban Twitter' ZunZuneo programme was covert
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In 2008, Benjamin Dangl wrote in ''[[The Progressive]]'' that the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] was using USAID to fund efforts in Bolivia to "undermine the [[Evo Morales|Morales]] government and coopt the country’s dynamic social movements—just as it has tried to do recently in Venezuela and traditionally throughout Latin America".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dangl |first1=Benjamin |title=Undermining Bolivia |url=http://www.progressive.org/mag_dangl0208 |website=Progressive.org |access-date=1 April 2024 |language=en-us |date=1 February 2008}}</ref>
In 2008, Benjamin Dangl wrote in ''[[The Progressive]]'' that the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] was using USAID to fund efforts in Bolivia to "undermine the [[Evo Morales|Morales]] government and coopt the country’s dynamic social movements—just as it has tried to do recently in Venezuela and traditionally throughout Latin America".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dangl |first1=Benjamin |title=Undermining Bolivia |url=http://www.progressive.org/mag_dangl0208 |website=Progressive.org |access-date=1 April 2024 |language=en-us |date=1 February 2008}}</ref>


From 2010 to 2012, the agency operated a social media site similar to [[Twitter]] in an attempt to instigate uprisings against the Cuban government. Its involvement was concealed in order to ensure mission success. The plan was to draw in users with non-controversial content until a [[Critical mass (sociodynamics)|critical mass]] is reached, after which more political messaging would be introduced. At its peak, more than 40,000 unsuspecting Cubans interacted on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2014-04-03 |title=US secretly created 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest and undermine government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/03/us-cuban-twitter-zunzuneo-stir-unrest |access-date=2024-09-06 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>
From 2010 to 2012, the agency operated a social media site similar to [[Twitter]] in an attempt to instigate uprisings against the Cuban government. Its involvement was concealed in order to ensure mission success. The plan was to draw in users with non-controversial content until a [[Critical mass (sociodynamics)|critical mass]] is reached, after which more political messaging would be introduced. At its peak, more than 40,000 unsuspecting Cubans interacted on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2014-04-03 |title=US secretly created 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest and undermine government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/03/us-cuban-twitter-zunzuneo-stir-unrest |access-date=2024-09-06 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>


In the summer of 2012, [[Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas|ALBA]] countries ([[Venezuela]], [[Cuba]], [[Ecuador]], [[Bolivia]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[Dominica]], [[Antigua]] and [[Barbuda]]) called on its members to expel USAID from their countries.<ref name="NBC News 2014">{{cite web | title=After More Than 50 Years, USAID Is Leaving Ecuador | website=NBC News | date=2014-10-01 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/after-more-50-years-usaid-leaving-ecuador-n215621 | access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref>
In the summer of 2012, [[Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas|ALBA]] countries ([[Venezuela]], [[Cuba]], [[Ecuador]], [[Bolivia]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[Dominica]], [[Antigua]] and [[Barbuda]]) called on its members to expel USAID from their countries.<ref name="NBC News 2014">{{cite web | title=After More Than 50 Years, USAID Is Leaving Ecuador | website=NBC News | date=2014-10-01 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/after-more-50-years-usaid-leaving-ecuador-n215621 | access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref>
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