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Mark Zuckerberg Issues Call For Universal Internet Access

Posted by samzenpus on from the net-for-the-people dept.

An anonymous reader writes: During the 70th annual U.N. General Assembly session, Zuckerberg discussed the "importance of connectivity in achieving the U.N.'s sustainable development goals. Connecting the world is one of the fundamental challenges of our generation. More than 4 billion people don't have a voice online." Zuckerberg said. Reuters reports: "The connectivity campaign calls on governments, businesses and innovators to bring the Internet to the some 4 billion people who now do not have access, organizers said. Signing on to the connectivity campaign were U2 star Bono, co-founder of One, a group that fights extreme poverty; actress Charlize Theron, founder of Africa Outreach Project; philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates; British entrepreneur Richard Branson; Huffington Post editor Arianna Huffington; Colombian singer Shakira, actor and activist George Takei and Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales."

5 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. If there's no bread... by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...let them eat cake?

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  2. Energy is the priority by AchilleTalon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In poor and developing countries the energy production is the priority. Even before food, clean water, etc. Once you have affordable energy, you can efficiently grow food, clean water or at least produce something you can sell to buy food and water. How will you connect to the internet without energy? How will you run a computer, tablet or cellphone on which you can connect to the internet without energy? How do you plan to connect the remote tribes in Papua New Guinea?

    --
    Achille Talon
    Hop!
  3. It's amazingly simple to have economic growth by trout007 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    All you need is to have a culture that respects people's private property. Then let's the capital stock naturally grow and people become more productive and wealthier. It's so simple but human greed of wanting to take from others by force has led to so many cultures inability to get past a subsistence level economy.

    --
    I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
  4. Many issues here... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I used to be a "internet-optimist" also believing universal internet access is a good thing, and maybe it is in the longer run.

    But right now, the web is badly broken. Most of these new users Mr. Zuckerberg wants to get online have no clue about the dangers, both cultural and technical. There are efforts by various foundations (eg: Mozilla) to educate new users, but they are hilariously mismatched to the big internet giants who want to siphon of people's privacy for $$$. On top of that you have the Snowden revelations

    I work with many rural communities in India, and often the question of providing internet access comes up. Unlike before, where I would say an unqualified yes, I do not support providing internet unless there is a deep discussion held with the stakeholders. What is (pleasantly) surprising though is that usually the elders in a Village are quite concerned and want to discuss these issues.

    Does Mr. Zuckerberg have it in him to have those discussions?

  5. Re: /facepalm by ceoyoyo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wonder how the rest of the world regards the west' fascination with celebrities.

    In the general assembly:

    "Who is that man speaking?"

    "He sings in a popular musical group."

    "Okay, but what does he know about communications? Is he an engineer? A scientist?"

    "No, he just sings."

    "Then why are we listening to him?"