HAVANA (AP) — Cuban media has criticized the social networking site Twitter for facilitating the spread of a rumor that former Cuban leader Fidel Castro had died.
An article on the state-run Cubadebate Web site accused Twitter of allowing a user to start the rumor on Monday from an Italian server, then quickly deactivate the account used. It said Twitter aided in spreading the disinformation by allowing the hash tag “fidelcastro” to become a trending topic, which drew many more people to the subject.
In Wednesday’s posting, Cubadebate also blamed anti-Castro expatriates, which it dubbed “necrophiliac counterrevolutionaries” for jumping on the story.
Castro, 85, turned power over to his brother Raul in 2006. Rumors of his death have abounded for years.
