Facebook's Free Internet Service Banned in India

The Indian government has banned Facebook from offering free Internet access in the country. Officials said the program breached net neutrality principles by favoring some sites over others.

Since 2013, Facebook has offered a service called Free Basics in some nations where Internet access is unaffordable to large parts of the population. Most of these countries are in Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

The service, offered in partnership with cellphone operators, gives users free access to data usage on a smart phone, which for many users will be their primary or only way of getting online. However, the free service only works through a dedicated app, which only offers access to a limited range of websites and online tools - including, as you might expect, Facebook.

Free Service Dubbed Discriminatory Tariff

Now the Indian government says such plans are unlawful. It's specified several rules including that "No service provider shall offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content." That's applicable here as, by offering the free deal, the mobile operators are effectively charging more to access websites that aren't part of the program. (Source: techcrunch.com)

The rules are designed to uphold a principle known as net neutrality. While the precise definition is sometime disputed, the general idea is that companies which carry Internet data should treat all (lawful) content in the same way.

How rigidly the principle should be applied is hotly disputed. For example: few people might argue that it shouldn't be used to stop cable companies charging customers more on their broadband bill if they want to access particular websites, or blocking customers from accessing sites supporting a particular political party or campaign.

Data Cap Exemptions Another Disputed Issue

However, in other cases there's more of an argument. For example, several US carriers offer deals where some video content doesn't count towards mobile data usage caps. The arguments about the limits of net neutrality in those cases have involved issues such as whether the carriers allow all video content providers to take part in the program, and whether the carriers should be allowed to charge a fee or "sponsorship" to providers who want their material excluded from data caps.

In the Indian case, the debate seems to come down to differing approaches to the very idea of the Internet. Net neutrality advocates say the whole point of the Internet is that every website should have as fair a chance as possible to attract visitors based on the quality of its content. In contrast Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg argues that such programs make it possible to get more people online by breaking down price barriers, thus helping the Internet work better. (Source: facebook.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Was the Indian government right to ban such services? Is upholding net neutrality an important part of maintaining the Internet as we know it? Or should carriers be allowed more flexibility if they make the case that it benefits customers?