Tread carefully with calls for ‘free data’ because it’s another promise government might not fulfil

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For at least three years, activists have been demanding that mobile operators reduce their data costs. Picture: Alet Pretorius / Gallo images
For at least three years, activists have been demanding that mobile operators reduce their data costs. Picture: Alet Pretorius / Gallo images

VOICES

Government is to blame for the precarious position in which South Africa finds itself economically. Therefore, it would be unwise for us to then identify government as the solution that those who are economically disempowered have been waiting for.

If we bestow government with more power, particularly the power to force the internet and data service industry to provide “free data”, then we can expect the economic malaise we find ourselves in to be exacerbated.

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