Rep. María Elvira Salazar has been a leading advocate for expanding internet access in Cuba, repeatedly urging the Biden Administration to approve technological solutions---such as aerial wireless networks, satellite internet, and enhanced embassy-area signals---to support Cuban protestors and counter government censorship (Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald).
Salazar emphasized that permission from the federal government, not funding, is the main obstacle to deploying internet solutions for Cuba, noting that the Cuban-American community is willing to provide necessary financial resources if authorized (Miami Herald).
She called on figures like Elon Musk to supply satellite technology to Cuba, modeled after the Starlink deployment in Ukraine, and introduced the Operation Starfall bill to improve communication access during government internet shutdowns (El Nuevo Herald).
In 2024, Salazar led a bipartisan effort against AI-driven exploitation of people's images and voices, introducing the No AI FRAUD Act to establish federal protections and impose hefty fines for unauthorized digital cloning (Miami New Times).
Salazar has also pressed for easing federal restrictions on the cruise industry, criticizing CDC policies she viewed as excessively restrictive and advocating for the industry's safe reopening post-pandemic (Miami Herald).
A potential vulnerability in Salazar's internet access proposals is their reliance on federal approval; without executive backing, even community-funded solutions face legal and logistical barriers.
2021: Salazar Instó Al Gobierno De Biden A Proveer Internet A Cuba According to El American, "La congresista afirmó una vez más que le está pidiendo a la administración Biden una sola cosa: proveer internet a Cuba. Salazar, quien se ha convertido en una de las voces más visibles en la lucha por la libertad de la isla, afirma que Estados Unidos no puede enviar el mensaje equivocado a dictaduras como la castrista y pide que desde Washington se le dé internet a los cubanos para ayudarlos a librarse del régimen." [El American, 11/18/21]
July 2021: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Supported Plan To Provide Internet Service To Cuba According to Tampa Bay Times, "Salazar agreed with DeSantis and others who participated in the roundtable with the plan to provide internet service to Cuba as a way to keep up momentum and show the world the how protests are ongoing." [Tampa Bay Times, 7/13/21]
July 2021: María Elvira Salazar Supported DeSantis's Plan To Provide Internet Service To Cuba According to El Nuevo Herald, "La legisladora Salazar concordó con DeSantis y otros que participaron en la mesa redonda con el plan de ofrecer servicio de internet en la isla como forma de mantener el impulso y mostrar al mundo que las protestas siguen." [El Nuevo Herald, 7/13/21]
July 2021: Salazar Urged Biden Administration To Authorize Aerial Internet For Cuba According to Tampa Bay Times, "On Thursday afternoon, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez, and Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr, called on the president to approve the deployment of 'high-altitude stratospheric balloons' to create aerial wireless networks that Cubans can connect to." [Tampa Bay Times, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Indicated Cuban-American Community Would Finance Internet Solution According to Tampa Bay Times, "If the federal government is not willing to pay for it," Salazar said. "I am sure that we can bring a prestigious law firm to create an escrow account and the Cuban-American community will pay for it. We don't need the money, we need the green light, the political willingness from the Biden administration." [Tampa Bay Times, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Called For Secure Upload Channel Similar To Iran Response For Cuba According to Tampa Bay Times, "On Wednesday, Salazar and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touted a secure channel set up in 2019 for Iranians to send videos and photos of crackdowns on protests that led to an internet blackout in Iran. Salazar said President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken should do the same for Cuba." [Tampa Bay Times, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Urged Biden Administration To Green-Light Efforts To Provide Internet Access To Cuba According to Miami Herald, "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez, and Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr, called on the president to approve the deployment of 'high-altitude stratospheric balloons' to create aerial wireless networks that Cubans can connect to." [Miami Herald, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Said Cuban-American Community Would Pay For Internet Access If Federal Government Refused According to Miami Herald, "'If the federal government is not willing to pay for it,' Salazar said. 'I am sure that we can bring a prestigious law firm to create an escrow account and the Cuban-American community will pay for it. We don't need the money, we need the green light, the political willingness from the Biden administration.'" [Miami Herald, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Pointed To Raven Technologies As Potential Internet Provider For Cuba According to Miami Herald, "Raven Technologies, a South Dakota-based company Salazar said could potentially provide internet access on the island, did not immediately respond to a request for comment." [Miami Herald, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Advocated Secure Channel For Cubans To Share Information Amid Internet Blackout According to Miami Herald, "On Wednesday, Salazar and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touted a secure channel set up in 2019 for Iranians to send videos and photos of crackdowns on protests that led to an internet blackout in Iran. Salazar said President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken should do the same for Cuba." [Miami Herald, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Criticized Biden And Blinken For Inaction On Cuban Internet Shutdown According to Miami Herald, "'When the Ayatollah shut off the internet in 2019, Mike Pompeo took decisive action, setting up a secure channel for people to upload videos of the atrocities being committed,' Salazar tweeted. 'The Castro regime has shut off the internet in Cuba. Where are POTUS and Secretary Blinken?'" [Miami Herald, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Maria Elvira Salazar Supported DeSantis's Call For Federal Action On Cuba Internet Access According to Tampa Bay Times, 'We need their support,' Salazar said. 'And we need - as the governor said - the green light. If they do it now, we will do the rest.' [Tampa Bay Times, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Maria Elvira Salazar Stated Cuban-American Community Would Fund Internet Access Efforts If Federal Government Declined According to Tampa Bay Times, Salazar also said that, if the federal government is unwilling to pay for the overseas connections, 'the Cuban-American community will.' [Tampa Bay Times, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Maria Elvira Salazar Hosted News Conference With Governor DeSantis On Cuba Policy According to Tampa Bay Times, DeSantis, joined by Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar and Federal Communications Commission member Brendan Carr at Thursday's midday press conference, told reporters. [Tampa Bay Times, 7/15/21]
July 2021: News Outlets Reported Salazar's Offices Hosted DeSantis Cuba News Conference According to Tampa Bay Times, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, speaks during a news conference at the offices of Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., alongside Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, left, and Marcell Felipe, right, founder of the Inspire America Foundation, Thursday, July 15, 2021, in Miami. [Tampa Bay Times, 7/15/21]
July 2021: Rep. María Elvira Salazar Advocated For Federal Approval Of Plan To Provide Internet To Cuba During Protests According to El Nuevo Herald, "Los congresistas que representan al sur de la Florida en el gobierno federal, Carlos Gimenez y Maria Elvira Salazar, y el gobernador del estado, Ron DeSantis, dijeron en una rueda de prensa conjunta en Miami que hay varias opciones para hacerlo, si el gobierno colabora con el sector privado." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Urged The Biden Administration To Give "Green Light" For Internet Access Initiatives For Cubans According to El Nuevo Herald, "Salazar aprovecho poco despues para instar a la Casa Blanca a que apruebe el proyecto, acusandola de solo haber dado 'declaraciones debiles' hasta ahora." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Stated Cuban Exiles Could Provide Funding If Needed For Internet Access Project According to El Nuevo Herald, "el exilio cubano podria proveer los fondos si se viese obligado a hacerlo y que ella podria abrir una cuenta de deposito con garantia por medio de un abogado." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 7/15/21]
July 2021: Salazar Asserted That Federal Permission, Not Funding, Was The Main Requirement For Internet Aid According to El Nuevo Herald, "No necesitamos el dinero. Nada mas necesitamos el permiso del gobierno federal. Necesitamos la luz verde de Biden", dijo." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 7/15/21]
July 2021: Maria Elvira Salazar Urged Biden Administration To Boost Internet Access In Cuba According to Miami Herald, "At a bare minimum the Biden administration should connect Cubans to the internet." Salazar proposed measures such as "high-altitude stratospheric balloons" and boosting internet capabilities in the vicinity of the U.S Embassy in Havana and the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base. [Miami Herald, 7/20/21]
July 2021: Maria Elvira Salazar Suggested The Department Of Defense Could Boost Cuba Internet Signals According to Miami Herald, "When pressed for specifics, Salazar said the Department of Defense should have capabilities to increase the reach of internet signals from U.S. territory, and that the Cuban exile community would help fund internet efforts if the Biden administration isn't willing to do so." [Miami Herald, 7/20/21]
July 2021: María Elvira Salazar Advocated For Expanded Internet Access In Cuba According to El Nuevo Herald, "Salazar, quien la semana pasada pregonó la posibilidad de utilizar 'globos' para crear redes WiFi aéreas, dijo el martes que el gobierno de Biden debería considerar la posibilidad de potenciar las capacidades de internet en las inmediaciones de la embajada de Estados Unidos en La Habana y la base naval de Guantánamo." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 7/21/21]
July 2021: María Elvira Salazar Suggested U.S. Defense Department Could Support Cuban Internet Access According to El Nuevo Herald, "Salazar dijo que el Departamento de Defensa debería tener capacidad para aumentar el alcance de las señales de internet desde territorio estadounidense y que la comunidad cubana en el exilio ayudaría a financiar los esfuerzos de internet si la administración de Biden no está dispuesta a hacerlo." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 7/21/21]
March 2022: Salazar Requested Elon Musk Provide Satellite Technology To Cuba According to El Nuevo Herald, "La representante de la Florida, María Elvira Salazar, hizo un llamado al fundador y director ejecutivo de SpaceX, Elon Musk, para que suministre tecnología satelital a Cuba como lo hizo con Ucrania recientemente." [El Nuevo Herald, 3/6/22]
Salazar Thanked Elon Musk For Supporting Ukraine With Starlink According to El Nuevo Herald, '"Le agradezco al señor Elon Musk y me encantaría que hiciera lo mismo por Cuba", dijo Salazar a Fox News Digital en una entrevista.' [El Nuevo Herald, 3/6/22]
Salazar Explained Rationale For Satellite Internet In Cuba According to El Nuevo Herald, 'La congresista cubanoamericana dijo que los rusos van a cerrar internet porque quieren "destruir en el silencio, o en la oscuridad".' [El Nuevo Herald, 3/6/22]
Salazar Introduced Operation Starfall Legislation In August 2021 According to El Nuevo Herald, 'Salazar presentó una legislación en agosto pasado, llamada Operation Starfall, para brindar acceso a las comunicaciones inalámbricas en el extranjero cuando los regímenes cierran el acceso a Internet.' [El Nuevo Herald, 3/6/22]
August 2021: Salazar Proposed Technology Deployment After Cuba Internet Blockade According to El Nuevo Herald, 'La congresista presentó el proyecto de ley después de que el régimen castrista bloqueó las redes sociales y aplicaciones de mensajería tras las masivas protestas en Cuba del 11 de julio para evitar que los cubanos compartieran videos e información.' [El Nuevo Herald, 3/6/22]
April 2021: Rep. María Elvira Salazar Criticized CDC Cruise Restrictions According to Miami Herald, "Calling the CDC's requirements for cruise companies too onerous, and faulting the agency for not already setting a restart date, U.S. Reps. María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commission Chairman Jose 'Pepe' Diaz and Commissioner Rebeca Sosa said cruises should be able to welcome passengers by July." [Miami Herald, 4/9/21]
April 2021: Salazar Urged CDC To Remove Conditional Sail Order According to Miami Herald, "Salazar called on the CDC to remove its conditional sail order entirely, in line with DeSantis' efforts." [Miami Herald, 4/9/21]
April 2021: Salazar Stated Cruise Lines Should Operate With Safety Protocols According to Miami Herald, 'No other industry is being held back by the federal government like the cruise line industry,' said Salazar. 'Cruise lines should be allowed to operate if they have proper safety protocols in place. The CEOs and stakeholders of these cruise line industries have said it and repeated it to the CDC that they are ready to implement any ... safety protocols that they require, but that we need to have these ships back into the sea.' [Miami Herald, 4/9/21]
2024: Rep. María Elvira Salazar Led Effort To Ban AI Exploitation Of Images And Voices According to Miami New Times, "In Congress, Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Miami native and former journalist, is leading an effort to ban AI exploitation of people's images and voices and slap violators with heavy fines." [Miami New Times, 2/14/24]
2024: Salazar Introduced No AI FRAUD Act To Protect Digital Likeness And Voice According to Miami New Times, "To combat such exploitation, Salazar proposed a bipartisan bill that would set up a federal framework to protect Americans (famous or not) from AI exploitation of their 'likeness and voice.' Salazar introduced the bill -- entitled the 'No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications (No AI FRAUD) Act' -- on January 10 alongside Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania." [Miami New Times, 2/14/24]
2024: Salazar's No AI FRAUD Act Proposed Strict Penalties For Unauthorized Digital Cloning According to Miami New Times, "If passed, Salazar's bill would enshrine a 'property right in [one's] own likeness and voice.' It provides for a $5,000 fine and disgorgement of profits against those who infringe on that right through an unauthorized digital imitation of a person's image or voice. Those who sell 'cloning services' to generate unauthorized digital mimics of a person would be subject to a $50,000 fine and disgorgement of profits." [Miami New Times, 2/14/24]
February 2024: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Led Effort To Ban AI Exploitation Of Likeness And Voice According to Miami New Times, "In Congress, Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Miami native and former journalist, is leading an effort to ban AI exploitation of people's images and voices and slap violators with heavy fines." [Miami New Times, 2/14/24]
January 10, 2024: Salazar Introduced Bipartisan 'No AI FRAUD Act' In Congress According to Miami New Times, "Salazar introduced the bill -- entitled the 'No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications (No AI FRAUD) Act' -- on January 10 alongside Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania." [Miami New Times, 2/14/24]
2024: Salazar's Bill Proposed Heavy Fines For Unauthorized Digital Imitation According to Miami New Times, "If passed, Salazar's bill would enshrine a 'property right in [one's] own likeness and voice.' It provides for a $5,000 fine and disgorgement of profits against those who infringe on that right through an unauthorized digital imitation of a person's image or voice. Those who sell 'cloning services' to generate unauthorized digital mimics of a person would be subject to a $50,000 fine and disgorgement of profits." [Miami New Times, 2/14/24]