4 chapters across the catalog
India and Egypt have shut down Facebook's "Free Basics" program, which Mark Zuckerberg claimed would connect the next billion people. The hosts praise the move, describing the program as a "despicable" walled garden that proxies content, removes JavaScript, and claims ownership of developer data.
Facebook's Amos 6 Satellite and Internet.org in Africa
Facebook partnered with Eutelsat to launch the Amos 6 satellite, part of Mark Zuckerberg's Internet.org initiative to bring connectivity to Africa. The hosts criticize the project as a "crappy publicity stunt," noting that satellite internet suffers from extreme latency and is inferior to the fiber optic networks Google is currently laying across the continent. They argue that Wall Street is being misled by the PR narrative of "connectivity as a human right."
Mark Zuckerberg discusses his initiative to bring internet access to the next 5 billion people, which critics argue is primarily a push for Facebook adoption. Zuckerberg claims the move is not about money, despite the potential for massive data collection in developing markets. The initiative is framed as a humanitarian effort to provide healthcare and news access.
Project Complete the Rings and Stream Filtering
John C. Dvorak provides an update on "Project Complete the Rings," stating he is 70% finished with the task. The hosts remind listeners to use alternative URLs like Dvorak.org/na if they experience filtering, as reported in Ireland. A brief tangent occurs regarding the nature of internet searches and the risk of being distracted by "anime porn" while working.
