Mark Zuckerberg recently spoke to representatives from the United Nations, announcing plans to bring Internet access to refugee camps as a step toward world peace.
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He added that it would help refugees get better support from the aid community and help them maintain links to family and loved ones, according to CNET.
In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg wrote that by giving someone internet access, those without a voice will be able to speak out and it empowers those that once were powerless.
The Obama administration is now placing safety nets to ensure that the so-called free Internet access is not going to be a platform for censorships.
“When communities are connected, we can lift them out of poverty, we can and must do more”.
The Internet became commonplace in developed countries in the 1990s, but United Nations officials estimate that half the world does not have reliable access – especially women and girls, whose education is vital to development.
“Connecting the world is one of the fundamental challenges of our generation”, Zuckerberg said. Joining Zuckerberg on this global marketing campaign is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, singer Bono, enterprise tycoon Richard Branson and pop star Shakira.
Zuckerberg’s pledge is the latest move by tech giants including Google to bring Internet connectivity worldwide. He explains, “We all benefit when we are more connected”.
“The Internet should not belong to only 3 billion people as it does today”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, talks with Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, right, during a gathering of CEOs and other executives at Microsoft’s main campus September 23, 2015 in Redmond, Washington.
As part of the Global Connectivity Declaration, the United Nations aims for everyone in the world to have internet access by 2020, which Facebook wants to play a big role in.
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It has yet to be launched, and it is one of several efforts underway by technology companies to spread the Internet to unconnected parts of the world. With a microphone accidentally left on during the live stream of a luncheon in New York, Merkel asked Zuckerberg about hate speech posts. Zuckerberg has defended Internet.org, and will be holding a town hall-style discussion with Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, this Sunday.
