The Internet.org project, driven mainly by Facebook and supported in this country by Cell C and the Western Cape government, could be the the beginning of a process that would deny quality Internet access for the majority of citizens.
It is creating an environment where access to the Internet will be access to Facebook or any Facebook-approved Web sites only. This is in direct violation of access to the Internet broadly as the project violates the principles of Net neutrality and threatens freedom of expression, equality of opportunity, security, privacy and innovation. South Africans should be aware of the following about the Internet.org:
Net neutrality: This supports freedom of expression and equality of opportunity by enabling people to seek, receive and impart information, and to interact as equals. It requires that the internet be maintained as an open platform on which network providers treat all content, applications and services equally, without discrimination. Most importantly, everyone should be able to innovate without permission from anyone or any entity.
Zero rating: This
is currently Internet.org’s basic model: Facebook is partnering with Internet service providers (CellC in SA) around the world to offer access to certain Internet applications to users at no cost. These agreements endanger freedom of expression and equality of opportunity by letting service providers decide which Internet services will be privileged over others.
Nomenclature: Internet.org misleadingly labels zero-rated applications the “Internet,” when in fact users only receive access to a tiny portion of it.
Freedom of expression:. The censorship capability of Internet gateways is well-established – some governments require ISPs to block access to sites or services. Facebook appears to be putting itself in a position where governments could apply pressure to block certain content, or even, if users must log in for access, block individual users.
Privacy: Facebook’s privacy policy does not provide adequate protections for new Internet users, some of whom may not understand how their data will be used, or may not be able to properly give consent for certain practices. Given the lack of statements to the contrary, it is likely “Nimrod MT”.
Internet.org also provides only a handful of applications and services, making it easier for governments and malicious actors to surveil user traffic
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Security: The current implementation of Internet.org threatens the security of users. The May 4 update to the program prohibits the use of TLS (Transport Layer Security), Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or HTTPS encryption by participating services. This inherently puts users at risk, because their web traffic will be vulnerable to malicious attacks and government eavesdropping.
Two-tiered Internet: The economic boom and revolution in connectivity that the Internet created in developed countries needs to be shared equally with the other three billion people.
Internet.org’s model – giving users a taste of connectivity before prompting them to purchase pricey data plans – fails to acknowledge the economic reality for billions of people who can’t afford those plans. These new users could get stuck on a separate and unequal path to Internet connectivity, which will serve to widen the digital divide.
South African technology leaders should apply their minds to how this initiative will impact on efforts to end digital divide in the country.
Cape Times
* Wesley Diphoko is a Cape Town-based technologist who is concerned about the up- coming launch of the Internet.org project by Facebook in South Africa. See: http://kayalabs.co /blog/#sthash.ik0gMwFB.dpuf
** The views expressed here are not necessirily those of Independent Newspapers.