Mark Zuckerberg, personally, responded to critics of "Free Basics," a Facebook effort to expand the reach of the Internet in India but is experiencing negative reactions. From those who want to protect the technology world.
"Free Basics," formerly Internet.org, offers a free and simplified version of the Internet for people who can not afford internet or smartphone downloads.
This service provides information on health, tourism, employment and local government. By providing only a limited number of websites and services, and the least amount of data transmission possible, the costs are reduced to a minimum.
Facebook is one of the applications in this service. Other applications include AccuWeather, Ask.com, Baby Center, Bing, Dictionary.com and Wikipedia, and countless other apps.
Opponents of Free Basics claim that the program violates Internet neutrality guidelines, whereby all content and Internet users must be treated fairly. They think that this program, despite being described for good purpose, reflects the commercial purposes of Facebook.
They ask, instead of just a few select pages, why Facebook does not provide access to all content on the Internet?
Zuckerberg responded to criticism this Monday in the Indian Times, stating that the Free Basics platform is open to all programmers, without advertising and that it will help troubled users escape poverty. .
"Instead of giving people access to basic internet services for free, people who oppose the program make false allegations - even if that means leaving behind." billions of people behind. Who can go against this? "
Zuckerberg's personal objections are part of a larger media effort. Facebook recently published full-page ads in Indian newspapers, asking readers to "support equality in the digital world."
The move came after Indian telecoms regulators demanded that Reliance Communications, one of India's largest telecom companies, stop providing Free Basics while managers are considering whether the service Is this case legal? Facebook has urged users to contact managers and voice their support.
However, those opposed to the program continue to make criticisms. Mahesh Murthy, a prominent Indian speculator, described the program as "imperialism and the East India Company as before", which was carried out under the guise of "justice in the digital world."
Amod Malviya, Flipkart's former chief technology officer, even went so far as to call the service "a modern conspiracy for what was in fact a burden for whites - that the poor in India They need Facebook's Free Basics service to free them. "
India has a technology platform in the top of the world, where trained engineers create cutting-edge applications and features. At the same time, hundreds of millions of Indians do not have access to the Internet, or even landlines. Helping these people access the Internet is a top priority for companies in Silicon Valley, who are always hoping that Indians will use their services on a large scale.
Google and other technology companies have agreed that Indians should have more access to the Internet, but they focus on providing services rather than building a new and limited ecosystem.
Earlier this month, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who was born in Chennai, said the company is committed to the principle of equality on the Internet. Google is trying to bring free Internet to 400 stations across India.
"The Internet is a balanced playground, and I do not think we are here today to provide access to a free, scalable, and scalable Internet network without any concern," he said. to the principle of fairness of the network. We are committed to this principle.
But Zuckerberg's advocates also have supporters in India.
"The criticism of the free Internet program for the poor in India is disguised by legitimate objections," wrote novelist Manu Joseph, who recently wrote in the New York Times. But the reality is that the Internet has to pay a lot of new fees because it blocks access to the Internet world of people who do not have the money to pay the Internet. "
