They said that despite progress in fighting killer diseases, the economic impact of internet access is critical and pointed how desperate refugees on the frontiers of Europe rely on smartphones to stay in touch with loved ones.
Advertisement
U2 frontman Bono, actress Charlize Theron, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson are also signatories of the campaign, which is called the Connectivity Declaration, the BBC notes. His speeches were directed to the U.N.’s sustainable development conference and private sector forum during its 70th annual General Assembly.
He has predicted that the site’s reach will continue to grow.
Ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg put up a profile picture emblazoned with the Indian tri-colour to show support for Modi’s Digital India initiative. A recent United Nations report estimates that the world will go from 43.4% connected to 60% by 2021 at the earliest.
“A like or a post won’t stop a tank or a bullet, but when people are connected, we have the chance to build a common global community with a shared understanding”, he added.
For example, Facebook is one of the signatories to Connect the World, an online petition you can sign to support Internet for all.
Facebook has been working on building satellites and aircraft that can beam Internet connection to far flung towns and villages. Developing countries remember it. In April 2015, 64 organisations from around the world sent an open letter to Facebook’s CEO complaining that “Facebooknet” violates the principles of net-neutrality, which, yea, it absolutely does. This will help the refugees to communicate easily while they are seeking resettlement.
Facebook has said it would be impractical to offer the entire Internet for free through the programme, which works through mobile carriers in various countries. Zuckerberg did not lay out a plan of how and when Facebook will to carry this out.
Advertisement
In order to provide people with tools, knowledge and opportunities, the role of the internet is very crucial, he added.
