India’s Regulator Effectively Bans Facebook’s Free Basics Service

Net neutrality as principle argues that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, without favoring or blocking particular websites. “Facebook Inc.’s efforts to expand Internet access in the developing world suffered a blow Monday when India’s telecommunications regulator ruled that the social-media company’s plan to offer free access to a limited number of websites undercut the purpose of the Internet,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “The regulator said Facebook’s Free Basics service violated the principles of net neutrality, which call for equal treatment of all traffic on the Internet.” Facebook offers Free Basics to 40 countries through mobile phone services, with the goal of promoting internet use in the developing world, but the chair of India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority said that differential pricing does not aid consumers or internet growth. Telecom firms provide the free service hoping that customers will pay for expanded internet use. Other countries may review the arrangements. Activists contended that Facebook should not be the gatekeeper for deciding basics for the public. Facebook officials said they are open to allowing an independent board to approve content. – YaleGlobal