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Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

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Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#51
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a person who literally is the Government in India Out of the loop: can you clarify what you mean by this?

It's mainly due to his disregard for any rules that may exist. The telecom regulator in India bent rules in favor of Jio: https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/policy/vodafone-gro... Rs 11,000-Crore ONGC (state owned oil and gas corp) Gas Shifted to Reliance Industries Fields: https://www.ndtv.com/business/rs-11-000-crore-ongc-gas-shift... They literally took out full-page advertisements with Modi's image on it: h…

It was on the TV too everywhere. All the damn time.

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#52

This is too much control for one company. This is really bad for democracy. JIO is deeply embedded into the rural populace. Exactly the ones who are vulnerable to disinformation campaigns. And facebook just bought a key to the gates.

Isn’t their leader an extreme nationalist? How does it get worse than that?

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#53
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does India have less free speech protections?

Probably but are laws real without enforcement? I have seen few people getting beaten up badly and two dying due to mob killing them with law enforcement involved for speaking against "religious stuff" and a politician. Just a recent thing that got some attention - https://twitter.com/ShefVaidya/status/1251818372343439361?s=... But I assure you, this happens way more in small towns and villages.

Your Twitter reference has nothing to do with what you described above. Nice try with the rumor mill.

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#54
post #5

This is bad. One executive at Jio already confirmed they use DPI to monitor traffic on their networks, and their apps, be it their MyJio, JioTV, JioNews, etc. ask for almost every permission there is. Also, it looks like the Zuck hasn't given up on his internet.org thing yet. He failed the first time, might as well join hands with a person who literally is the Government in India. Can't switch to Idea because they we…

>who literally is the Government in India. Don't agree with that. Ambani is a Congress (opposition party) sympathiser and openly backed their Candidate in recently concluded elections. Agreed that capitalists are above politics, but what you saying "literally is the Government in India" is over enthusiastic and generic without bringing substantial reference. Remember his brother is almost bankrupt despite support from current and previous Governments. And BJP, the ruling party have made several rival entrepreneurs their patrons (Adani). Also since the economy grew substantially in modern times and donations are much more widely spread out, the political parties are not answerable to few handful Capitalists who have their own way unlike in the 80's politics. Ultra rich may have their say in policy decisions (lobbying), but it's an overkill to state they run the country.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabh...

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably but are laws real without enforcement? I have seen few people getting beaten up badly and two dying due to mob killing them with law enforcement involved for speaking against "religious stuff" and a politician. Just a recent thing that got some attention - https://twitter.com/ShefVaidya/status/1251818372343439361?s=... But I assure you, this happens way more in small towns and villages.

Your Twitter reference has nothing to do with what you described above. Nice try with the rumor mill.

It highlights that even with the police commissioner there, people can kill you for a rumour. So what is government enforcing if mob can take you apart for any reason they want?

If mob gets triggered by you criticising their cows or government (idk why blind patriotism is so widespread here), what would you do about your free speech if you get killed in the process with no enforcement against those who killed you or imagine a family member?

Honestly I am confused about free speech as well. Is the argument that government didn't stop you from criticising itself, just that the mob happens to kill you for it in public in the presence of the government make sense? Is that free speech?

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#56
post #5

This is bad. One executive at Jio already confirmed they use DPI to monitor traffic on their networks, and their apps, be it their MyJio, JioTV, JioNews, etc. ask for almost every permission there is. Also, it looks like the Zuck hasn't given up on his internet.org thing yet. He failed the first time, might as well join hands with a person who literally is the Government in India. Can't switch to Idea because they we…

> a person who literally is the Government in India Out of the loop: can you clarify what you mean by this?

Well Mukesh Ambani with a net worth of $50 billion, is the son of Dirubhai Ambani. Like father son too has all political parties in his pockets, be it the congress or BJP or other parties in India. Word is since Modi didnt coorperate in something with Mukesh, he literally sabotaged an alliance they had in the state of Maharashtra, to screw Modi's party over and stiched up an alliance of political rivals.

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#57
So Facebook paid 5.7 billion dollar to buy "influence" in India. The biggest influencer of India is Mukesh Ambani who has strong influence in Indian politics. Now it will be a matter of months and WhatsApp payments will get regulatory approval to go ahead to launch WhatsApp payments in India. That is the boss move here IMO. Jio is just a way to solve for regulatory hurdles in India.

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#58
post #52

This is too much control for one company. This is really bad for democracy. JIO is deeply embedded into the rural populace. Exactly the ones who are vulnerable to disinformation campaigns. And facebook just bought a key to the gates.

Isn’t their leader an extreme nationalist? How does it get worse than that?

Our leader is not an extremist nationalist. Next.

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#59

So Facebook paid 5.7 billion dollar to buy "influence" in India. The biggest influencer of India is Mukesh Ambani who has strong influence in Indian politics. Now it will be a matter of months and WhatsApp payments will get regulatory approval to go ahead to launch WhatsApp payments in India. That is the boss move here IMO. Jio is just a way to solve for regulatory hurdles in India.

For those who don't know - Mukesh Ambani is the 3rd richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $60B.

Re: Facebook Takes $5.7B Stake in India’s Jio

#60

This is too much control for one company. This is really bad for democracy. JIO is deeply embedded into the rural populace. Exactly the ones who are vulnerable to disinformation campaigns. And facebook just bought a key to the gates.

As long as enough people submit to the "muh private company" idea, this will only get worse.

Are you suggesting that we shouldn't have private companies?
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