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Facebook Launches Internet.org Platform and Opens Up To More Developers
Mark Wilson writes: The aim behind Facebook's Internet.org program is to bring internet access to the wider world. While an undeniably praise-worthy venture, it came in for criticism for going against the principles of net neutrality. Now, the company is launching the Internet.org Platform with a view to countering this criticism. The platform opens up Internet.org to more developers, giving them the chance to bring 'free basic services' to people around the world. There's also the promise of greater transparency.
What's wrong with the plain old internet that we need this? I'm thinking that the notion here is that by making money by limiting access that they can give people free internet. AOL.com sort of started with the notion of monetizing a walled garden to offer cheaper internet access and it did spread to eventually giving access to the whole internet. But you could also describe indentured servitude in a similar rosie way of giving people opportunities.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
I don't trust Zuckerberg or Facebook as far as I can throw them, if only because of their desire to turn IT into minimum wage labor via immigration, but the fact is that there are no cartoon villains in real life. Some people I don't like, and who I genuinely believe are ruining our industry, are just as capable of philanthropy and good works as a dedicated activist. Perhaps more so. Another example is Bill Gates.