Facebook Free Basics Program Shut Down in Egypt!

The premier Indian Institute Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have criticised the social networking giant Facebook’s free basics initiative labelling it as “flawed” and “misleading”.

The regulator has received 3.81 lakh comments from people claiming supporters of net neutrality.

Net neutrality debate has started once again with Facebook’s launch of “Free Basics” in India.

Sharma further said that in the coming days the regulator will decide upon the broader policy steps on net neutrality.

Facebook’s Free Basics program has been criticized as a violation of net neutrality.

There is a chance that Free Service will be reactivated in both India and Egypt as the regulators for these countries are said to be reviewing the impact the service will have on internet use. While Facebook claims to be doing this on behalf of the millions who do not have access to the internet, it is never wise to assume big companies are acting in anything but their own interests.

The Internet.org initiative by Facebook was renamed to “Free Basics” just ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Facebook HQ.

Free Basics is a collection of Internet services for health care, education, weather, jobs and communication – including, of course, Facebook – that the company has released in more than 30 emerging markets, including India, in partnership with local telecommunications companies. “There is a lot of hue and cry over Free Basics itself, but he’s done a good thing by saying this is not what the issue is about”.

But, how would make sure that people who are not online are offered affordable, or rather free, internet? Now the problem for this is that we had asked for response to the specific question of differential pricing… instead we have got responses on supporting Free Basics.

He, however, did not elaborate if the people did not reply to Trai, the comments on Free Basics would be termed invalid.

RS Sharma, chairman, TRAI, said that the regulatory authority will not reject the 14 lakh responses favouring free basics and will give a “fair chance” to the respondents to rectify the error and send their answers “question by question”. But content providers must apply to and be approved by Facebook to be accessible.

Will there be another extension to the deadline for sending comments on your paper for differential pricing, as you have received a large number of comments, mostly from Facebook users?