Mark Zuckerberg: Internet access can eradicate extreme poverty
The key to ending extreme poverty? Internet access, according to Mark Zuckerberg.
The Facebook CEO called for greater global Internet access on Saturday during a speech at the United Nations.
“When communities are connected, we can lift them out of poverty,” he said. “We can and must do more.”
UPDATED 11:30AM 9/27/15
India’s Modi sits down with Mark Zuckerburg
By Jackie Wattles
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Silicon Valley, and he sat down with Mark Zuckerberg on Sunday.
Modi is spending two days on the West Coast to take a closer look at what America’s red-hot tech industry is made of. He wants India to have its own Silicon Valley, hoping startups will create jobs and restart economic growth in the country.
At a townhall-style meeting at the Facebook headquarters, Modi and Zuckerberg are expected to discuss everything from cybersecurity to bringing Internet access to developing countries like India.
A live stream is available on Facebook. The event began at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PST).
Modi, who has 15.2 million Twitter followers, said social media sites like Facebook are key tool for diplomacy and connecting world leaders with citizens.
Modi’s trip to the West Coast is the first for an Indian prime minister in 33 years.
On Saturday, he visited with Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and toured a Tesla facility. He even sat for a group photograph with Tesla employees of Indian origin.
Modi also met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and other top chief executives including Satya Nadella of Microsoft and Sundar Pichai of Google.
He gave a speech about Digital India, his initiative to improve technology and connectivity in his country.
“There may be still some who see the digital economy as the tool of the rich, educated and the privileged,” Modi said. “But, ask the taxi driver or the corner vendor in India what he has gained from his cell phone, and the debate gets settled.”
Ahead of Modi’s visit, Zuckerberg changed his profile picture — and created a filter for other Facebook users to do the same — to support the initiative.
Zuckerberg said Facebook would be working with the U.N. to help bring Internet access to refugee camps — especially timely given Europe’s current crisis.
Zuckerberg’s U.S. partnership is part of the U.N.’s effort to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030 — a goal that was set Friday.
However, the goal to expand Internet access isn’t new for Zuckerberg.
In August 2013, he launched Internet.org, with the mission of connecting the 5 billion people without internet access.
“Connecting the world is one of the fundamental challenges of our generation,” Zuckerberg said Saturday.
Zuckerberg’s speech about the crucial role that connectivity plays in reaching the U.N.’s sustainable development goals was directed at CEOs, heads of state and leaders of civil society organizations.
Zuckerberg also posted a Facebook message before his speech about his goal to make universal Internet access a “global priority.”
In the post, Zuckerberg also announced a call to action that he was supporting alongside socially conscious groups and figures such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the ONE campaign and Bono.
“We have a simple message,” Zuckerberg wrote. “By giving people access to the tools, knowledge and opportunities of the Internet, we can give a voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless.”
The Facebook CEO was scheduled to give two speeches at the United Nations on Saturday. His speeches were directed to the U.N.’s sustainable development conference and private sector forum during its 70th annual General Assembly.
Zuckerberg is expected to host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for a town hall Q&A session.
By Ahiza Garcia
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