Internet.org

"Free Basics" redirects here. Not to be confused with FreeBASIC. For Facebook's stripped-down zero data charge mobile version, see Facebook Zero.
Internet.org
Mission statement"Connecting the world"
Type of projectAffordable access to Internet services
Products
FounderFacebook
EstablishedAugust 20, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-20)
StatusActive
Websiteinternet.org

Internet.org is a partnership between social networking services company Meta Platforms and six companies (Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Opera Software, Nokia and Qualcomm) that plans to bring affordable access to selected Internet services to less developed countries by increasing efficiency, and facilitating the development of new business models around the provision of Internet access.[1][2] The app delivering these services was renamed Free Basics in September 2015.[3] As of April 2018, 100 million people were using internet.org.[4]

It has been criticized for violating net neutrality, and by handpicking internet services that are included, for discriminating against companies not in the list, including competitors of Meta Platforms' subsidiary Facebook.[5][6] In February 2016, regulators banned the Free Basics service in India based on "Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations".[7] The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) accused Facebook of failing to pass on the four questions in the regulator's consultation paper and also blocking access to TRAI's designated email for feedback on Free Basics.[8][9] On February 11, 2016, Facebook withdrew the Free Basics platform from India.[10] In July 2017, Global Voices published the widespread[11][12] report[13][14] "Free Basics in Real Life" analyzing its practices in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and concluding it violates net neutrality, focuses on "Western corporate content",[11] and overall "it's not even very helpful".[12]

  1. ^ "Internet.org: About". Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  2. ^ Constine, Josh (August 20, 2013). "Facebook And 6 Phone Companies Launch Internet.org To Bring Affordable Access To Everyone". Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  3. ^ "Facebook Rebrands Internet.Org App As "Free Basics"". Fast Company. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  4. ^ "Facebook's Internet.org has connected almost 100M to the 'internet'". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  5. ^ "Blow To Internet.org As Indian Internet Companies Begin To Withdraw". Huffington Post. April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  6. ^ Russell, Jon. "Under Fire In India, Facebook's Internet.org Launches In Indonesia - TechCrunch".
  7. ^ "India blocks Facebook Free Basics internet scheme". BBC. 8 February 2016.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Solon, Olivia (2017-07-27). "'It's digital colonialism': how Facebook's free internet service has failed its users". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  12. ^ a b Liao, Shannon (2017-07-27). "Facebook's Free Basics violates net neutrality and isn't even that good, says report". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  13. ^ "Can Facebook Connect the Next Billion? · Global Voices Advocacy". Global Voices Advocacy. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  14. ^ Global Voices (2017). Voices, G. (2017). Free Basics in real life: Six case studies on Facebook's Internet "on ramp" initiative from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Amsterdam: Global Voices Foundation.