Free Basics: India Says Thanks, But No Thanks, Zuck

Facebook's Internet.org Free Basics' goal is "bringing internet access and the benefits of connectivity to the portion of the world that doesn‘t have them."

Free Basics by Facebook provides access to services on their mobiles in markets where internet access may not be affordable. Websites are available for free without data charges, including content like news, employment, health, education & local information. By introducing people to the benefits of the internet through specified websites, Facebook hopes to bring more people online and help improve their lives.

As 85% or more of the world live in areas cellular coverage, but expensive mobile data, the benefits of the internet are not available to the vast majority of the world's people, according to Facebook. To overcome this, Facebook partners with mobile operators enabling access to basic Facebook approved websites, for free.

Internet access, consumer advocates & national champions asked the following questions of Free Basics

* Bringing the poor online?

Is this a similar try, buy & addict tactic similar to that of cigarette companies & drug peddlars?

* Doing well by doing good?

Is Facebook more doing well for itself than doing good for the poor?

* Building a walled garden?

Is Facebook seeking to build its own closed network, an expanded Facebook covering the whole of the internet in poorer countries?

* Do we want a fragmented internet?

Is Facebook becoming the a private sector version of Russia & China in fragmenting the internet?

India's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRAI) banned differential data pricing

Even though India's Prime Minister had cleared Free Basics for India, a public outcry forced a TRAI review. Bowing to public pressure the TRAI rejected the differential pricing model implicit in Free Basics

Facebook Free Basics: India says thanks but no thanks, Zuck.

Also see the Storify board, Free Basics: India Says Thanks, But No Thanks, Zuck & Facebook's Internet.org Free Basics