Bill Gates: Google Can't Help Poor People

Bill Gates recently said in a media interview that Google's practice of providing Internet access to poor areas cannot substantially help the local population.

Gates said in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that Google’s "balloon network access" (Project Loon) solution did not hit the nail on the head. This plan by Google intended to release balloons equipped with radio devices in areas around the world without Internet connection, thus forming a network.

"If you are dying from dysentery, I guess looking up at these balloons will not be any help. Or when your child is immediately sick, no website can relieve his pain," Gates said.

As for the role technology plays in developing countries, Gates was also skeptical.

"I am definitely a believer in the digital revolution. It is a good thing for basic health care centers and schools to be connected to the Internet, but actually these things don't work. For those truly low-income countries, unless you directly indicate measures to control malaria."

Malaria is one of the main diseases that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is striving to eradicate. The data on the foundation's website shows that malaria occurs in nearly 100 countries, with more than 200 million patients worldwide.

Google said that its balloon networking plan could help maintain communication in areas where natural disasters occur.

But Gates still held a reserved opinion, "Google initially said it would do a lot of things. They hired epidemiologist Larry Brilliant, carried out excellent public relations, then the project was shut down. Now they are just doing things within their expertise. That's fine, but as actors who only do what they are good at, they cannot help the poor."

Google did not respond to the media's interview request regarding this comment.