• OtterA
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    1 year ago

    Worth reading about for how Facebook locked in markets in developing countries

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet.org

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook_Zero

    In particular, see the bits on ‘Net neutrality criticism’ and ‘Impact’


    TLDR: Accessing Facebook is easier or even free, accessing the rest of the internet costs money. Thus making it so poorer communities only use Facebook, and say that “Facebook is the Internet”

    Few quotes:

    In 2015, researchers evaluating how Facebook Zero shapes information and communication technology use in the developing world found that 11% of Indonesians who said they used Facebook also said they did not use the Internet. 65% of Nigerians, 61% of Indonesians, and 58% of Indians agree with the statement that “Facebook is the Internet”

    [Internet.org] has been criticized for violating net neutrality, and by handpicking internet services that are included, for discriminating against companies not in the list, including competitors of Meta Platforms’ subsidiary Facebook.[5][6] In February 2016, regulators banned the Free Basics service in India based on “Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations”.[7] The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) accused Facebook of failing to pass on the four questions in the regulator’s consultation paper and also blocking access to TRAI’s designated email for feedback on Free Basics.[8][9] On February 11, 2016, Facebook withdrew the Free Basics platform from India.[10] In July 2017, Global Voices published the widespread[11][12] report[13][14] “Free Basics in Real Life” analyzing its practices in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and concluding it violates net neutrality, focuses on “Western corporate content”,[11] and overall “it’s not even very helpful”.[12]

    Here is a list of the countries, at least for Facebook Zero:

    List of countries
     Jordan: Zain Jordan
     Albania: Telekom Albania; Vodafone Albania
     Algeria: Djezzy;[14] Mobilis
     Angola: Unitel S.A.
     Bosnia and Herzegovina: ERONET
     Bangladesh: Grameenphone
     Benin: MTN Group
     Cameroon: MTN Group
     Canada: Freedom Mobile
     Croatia: Bonbon;[15] Hrvatski Telekom;[16] MultiPlus Mobile;[17] Simpa;[18] Tomato;[19] Vipnet
     El Salvador: Movistar
     Fiji: Digicel
     France: SFR
     Germany: E-Plus[20] Ortel
     Greece: WIND Hellas[21]
     Georgia: MagtiCom
     Guinea: MTN Group
     Indonesia: XL Axiata
     Kenya: Airtel Kenya
     Kosovo: iPKO
     Malaysia: DiGi
     Morocco: Maroc Telecom
       Nepal: Ncell[22]
     Pakistan: Telenor Pakistan; Jazz Pakistan, Zong Pakistan[23][24][25][26]
     Palestine: Jawwal[27]
     Panama: Cable & Wireless Communications
     Philippines: Globe Telecom, Smart,[28]
     Poland: Play[29]
     Qatar: Vodafone Qatar
     Saudi Arabia: Saudi Telecom Company[30]
     South Africa: CellC (Discontinued the service), Vodacom, MTN Group
     Suriname: Digicel
     Trinidad and Tobago: Digicel
     United Arab Emirates: Du[31]
     United Kingdom: Three
     Zimbabwe: Telecel Zimbabwe
     Zambia: Airtel Zambia