this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023
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[–] otter@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 year ago* (last edited 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