Facebook's Colonies

sarahnaomi writes: Facebook this week released a major report on global internet access, as part of the company's Internet.org campaign, which aims to bring cheap internet to new markets in partnership with seven mobile companies. Facebook says 1.39 billion people used its product in December 2014, and it's natural for the company to try to corral the other four-fifths of the planet. But aside from ideals and growth markets, the report highlights a tension inherent to the question of access: When Facebook sets sail to disconnected markets, what version of the internet will it bring? In its report, Facebook advocates for closing the digital divide as quickly as we can, which is a good thing. But when Facebook argues that, "as use of the internet continues to expand, it will exert a powerful effect on the global economy, particularly in the developing world," it's arguing that any increase in access is inherently good, which isn't necessarily the case.

Comments

Re:Sure, some access is bad

[mi]

me: i don't trust government. i also don't trust corporations

You are framing the question wrong. I trust both to be self-serving and greedy.

The problem is, a self-serving and greedy government official will use his existing powers to expand his control over your life and money. As Thomas Jefferson observed back in 1788: "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground."

On the other hand, for a corporation — operating in a reasonably free country — the best way to riches is through providing services and/or making goods, that people are willing to pay for.

This is why I want this country to remain "reasonably free" — where the above-stated means of enrichment remain competitive.

why is there this irrational tribalism at work in the world where expressing an opinion against something automatically means i am for something else

Because certain things are exclusive of certain other things. Liberty vs. expanding government control is one example.