[governance] Example of Corporate Internet Authoritarianism -

[Imran Ahmed Shah]

Dear Brother Foad and all Frieds,
I also agree with your point of view that many organizations want Maximum Control to Limit Access Rights which is developing DIGTAL DIVIDE between Developed and Under Developed Countries, Rich and Poor users, Urban and Rural Communities.

Following is an example of Blackberry Software limited access to different countries, 
Regarding IP network Camera Application (recently launched by RIM) is free for some countries, and with cost to other countries. 
Note: Pakistan is not in both lists (not available for Pakistan even if we are ready to pay for it) however available for India

We should help M/s ICANN, IGF and others to prepare a Policy to develop a strong Bridge between Digital Divide (which is also included in ICANN Mission for next 3 Years)

---------------------

BlackBerry App World Availability

BlackBerry App World is currently available with both paid and free applications in:

BlackBerry App World is currently available with free applications in:
Brazil1
Venezuela
Argentina
Chile
Mexico
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Panama
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Aruba
Bahamas
Cayman Islands
Barbados
Trinidad & Tobago
Dominican Republic
Hong Kong
Singapore
Indonesia
India

1. BlackBerry App World is not currently available in Brazilian Portuguese. Not all applications available in BlackBerry App World are available in Brazilian Portuguese.

Ref: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/1693

---------------

Regards, 


Imran Ahmad Shah
[ICANNian since Oct-09]

Fouad Bajwa wrote: 
> Hmm,
> Apologies beforehand, I may have confused the literal meaning of
> authoritarian but authoritarianism also applies to an organization and
> we can see that within the evolution and stronghold of capitalism and
> capitalist approaches, Amazon does fall in to this domain. For
> example, Amazon does dictate who buys or isn't allowed to buy from its
> website. Secondly it also dictates who can download or not download
> from their website.
> A government will not provide me a kindle, I will have to approach
> Amazon, the organization in this case for it since it is their
> product. Its available for sale to all the developed countries and
> certain high income regions but not to the third world/low-income/LDC.
> Secondly the website clearly shows through its messages that it
> withholds my right to access even a free software product.
> Authoritarianism does apply to governance regimes but on the Internet,
> the corporations were the first ones to apply governance regimes, the
> governments only followed as awareness and participation developed.
> The electronic network has its own dimensions of evolving governance
> models and there is no significant proof of who came first, the
> chicken or the egg.
> A small and prior example may also come from PayPal and Ebay. We in
> the developing world and in particular Pakistan cannot service through
> knowledge work the people of the west or developed because they prefer
> to pay us through paypal only and in most instances clearly specify
> that they will only work with people with paypal accounts. That
> immediately applies an exclusion and when PayPal or Ebay are
> approached, they maintain their silence or authority on the choice of
> whom they give access to or not.
> I was referencing the software, free for all otherwise not free for
> Pakistan infact not available at all. If more people in the west
> produce for kindles in the near future, more divide for people in this
> part in accessing that intellectual or knowledge contribution.
> Interestingly, there is no price for the software but still no
> provision to people in a developing country like Pakistan. Similarly
> has been practice by Ebay and PayPal with the denial of any kind of
> service. Why keep us out of the e-economy? If we do something on our
> own then over pricing is practised on the developing world. Lots of
> issues here but I guess we have to now take stock one by one. It still
> is access denied.
> I believe that the respect of rights online for us in the in the
> developing world are also influenced by western corporations. They
> sell us expensive Internet, expensive equipment and continue to deny
> access to many services they allow for their regions and people.
> In my personal opinion, Internet Authoritariansim is still evolving
> and its forms are still being identified. Only signifying governmental
> regimes as the only available forms of authoritarianism is not justice
> to the world online.
> My two cents.... :o)
> On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 8:33 PM, William Drake
> <william.drake at graduateinstitute.ch> wrote:
>> Hi Fouad
>> On Nov 25, 2009, at 3:38 PM, Fouad Bajwa wrote:
>>
>> Message on Page:
>> We're sorry. Kindle for PC is not currently available in Pakistan.
>> Are you traveling outside your country?
>> Sign in to see if Kindle for PC is available for download in your country.
>>
>> Seriously, you think a company not selling a product in a country
>> constitutes "authoritarianism"?
>> Why contribute to the erosion of words' meaning?  Can't we leave that to the
>> teabaggers et al?
>> Bill
> -- 
> Regards.
> --------------------------
> Fouad Bajwa
> Advisor & Researcher
> ICT4D & Internet Governance
> Member Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF)
> Member Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (IGC)
> My Blog: Internet's Governance
> http://internetsgovernance.blogspot.com/
> Follow my Tweets:
> http://twitter.com/fouadbajwa
> MAG Interview:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATVDW1tDZzA
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