Net Neutrality Gets Tricky When You Talk About Global Access

Facebook Inc FB has rolled out a new, free Internet service app aimed at connecting billions of people who don't have access to the web around the world. Initially touted as a revolutionary way to provide information to those who otherwise couldn't afford it, the program was launched under the name Internet.org earlier this year.

However amid a stream of criticism and much debate over the ethics of the program, the social networking company renamed the initiative Free Basics by Facebook and added in some additional features. While the revamped Internet service offers more to its users, many say it still violates the principles of net neutrality.

Remember Net Neutrality?

This is not the first time the public has raised questions about net neutrality. Earlier this year Internet service providers, content creators and lawmakers all debated how to protect the free flow of content to users. That discussion is now resurfacing as many say that Facebook's initiative takes peoples' power to choose what content they access away from them.

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg designed the platform to deliver limited content to people who were unable or unwilling to pay for a connection. The platform includes content from specific partners with no photo or video content. That means that sites like Facebook and BabyCenter are available but non-partners like Google Inc GOOG are restricted.

Is That Fair?

Many complain that giving Facebook the power to decide what people can access on the Internet is a violation of net neutrality. Others say that since the app was designed by Facebook it makes sense that only Facebook and its partners are accessible and that providing some free access is better than none at all. However, key markets like India and Indonesia have responded poorly to the free internet service, which has led Zuckerberg to update the app in order to make it accessible to all developers.