(31 December 2015) India has become a battleground over the right to unrestricted internet access, with local tech start-ups joining the front line against Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his plan to roll out free Internet to the country’s masses.
The Indian government has ordered Facebook’s Free Basics plan on hold while it decides what to do.
The programme, launched in more than 35 developing countries around the world, offers pared-down web services on mobile phones, along with access to the company’s own social network and messaging services, without charge.
But critics say the programme, launched 10 months ago in India in collaboration with mobile operator Reliance Communications, violates principles of net neutrality, the concept that all websites on the internet are treated equally.
Newshub has the story.
