Net neutrality not relevant to Free Basics: Zuckerberg
08 Oct 2015
Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg defended Facebook Inc.'s push to introduce billions of people to the internet, saying that achieving universal web access is one of the ''fundamental challenges of our generation''.
Facebook is facing criticism for its Internet.org initiative, which is trying to extend web access in emerging markets partly through a barebones mobile app. In response to the controversy, the social network recently renamed the app 'Free Basics'.
''It turns out everything impactful that you want to do has some controversy,'' Zuckerberg said during an appearance at a two-day conference hosted by Vanity Fair magazine.
The Free Basics app offers access to services like Facebook and Wikipedia. Critics say it favours Facebook properties at the expense of others, violating the concept of net neutrality.
Zuckerberg said net-neutrality principles are relevant for price discrimination, but not necessarily for internet access.
''If an operator wants to advantage their own video programme and charge more for Netflix, then that is bad,'' he said. ''But if you're a student in India and you're getting access to some basic tools to do your homework for free and you can learn some more, it's really hard to see how that is hurting anyone.''
Zuckerberg cited Facebook-sponsored research from Deloitte LLP that concluded that web access can help life millions of people out of poverty. He said many people without web access today can afford the internet, but haven't been convinced of its value. The Free Basics app helps win them over, he said.
''If you ask people in the developing world, Facebook is the number one reason why a lot of people get access to the internet,'' he said.
''Staying in touch with people is the most fundamental thing that people do. So it's not a surprise that after being able to call people and text people, the next thing they want to do is keep in touch with everyone they care about at once.''