Nowadays the first thing that comes into our minds as a “human right” is undoubtedly internet access.
According to a KPCB research, 2.8 billion people have access to the web. This means that 40% of the global population can easily post a selfie on their Facebook profile. Likewise they can watch tons of funny videos on YouTube as well as get in touch with a friend using the instant messaging system provided by WhatsApp.
Nonetheless digital divide (gap in terms of access to and usage of ICT) between developed and developing countries is still very large.
But, the increasing smartphone penetration rate within the less-developed countries as India and Sri Lanka, has given to the tech giants the chance the reach those potential “costumers”.
Indeed both Silicon Valley companies, big G and Facebook, are strongly investing to bring broadband connection in many parts of the world not yet connected to the internet by sending a signal from the space using drones, hot-air balloons or satellites.
Yes it sounds wonderful, but what about the price?
The acquisition and processing of commercial data on top of personal data.
Therefore the social inequality that tech companies are promising to reduce is just altering its significance.
Digital divide is not anymore the gap between those who have access to the internet and those who don’t, but between those who can elude the aspiration of the big business and those who can’t.
