Is Facebook's Free Internet Fair?

Facebook Inc FB's Mark Zuckerberg has embarked on a mission to deliver a free Internet service to people around the globe who have been unable to connect for financial reasons with the company's Free Basics service. While his intentions may appear noble, Zuckerberg's initial rollout of the service has put him at the center of a debate as to whether Facebook is violating the principles of net neutrality.

What Is Free Basics?

Facebook's Free Basics is a partnership between the firm and service providers who allow customers free access to a limited Internet platform. The idea behind it is that people will have a chance to use the Internet and connect through sites like Facebook when they otherwise couldn't have. This is beneficial to service providers, as it has the potential to persuade users to upgrade their plans and get full access to the Internet. It also benefits users, as it allows them a cheap way to gain Internet access.

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What's The Problem?

The problem is that the service also benefits Facebook by making it the initial gateway to the Internet for those using Free Basics. In India, where Free Basics has the potential to connect millions, telecommunications regulators banned Free Basics saying that it violates net neutrality rules.

Critics of the program point out that providing people with a watered-down version of the Internet that only includes platforms that Facebook has pre-selected sets a dangerous precedent. In their view, the way that Free Basics operates essentially does away with the open nature of the Internet.

What's Next

Zuckerberg has been open to criticism about the program, saying that he hopes to continue developing Free Basics in order to support the local culture of the countries it is used in. However, he has been unreceptive to calls that Facebook instead sponsor data-credit programs that allow users to access the full Internet rather than just the Free Basics platform. While the initiative has been heavily criticized in India, Free Basics is still operating in 37 other countries.

Image Credit: Public Domain
Posted In: NewsPoliticsGlobalMarketsTechTrading IdeasGeneralFree BasicsMark Zuckerberg
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