Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook decided to reboot the app that provides free Internet access for smartphones in 19 nations from all over the world.
Due to several complaints, the free app was also renamed from “Internet.org” to “Free Basics by Facebook.”
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO, announced that on Saturday he will give a speech at the United Nations in New York. Moreover, on Sunday, Zuckerberg will motion back to Facebook’s headquarters, where he will host a Q&A the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The main topic in both of the events will be the Internet.
What Zuckerberg is trying to achieve through the app is offering Internet access to all the people in the world that currently do no benefit from it.
However, Facebook’s intention has been met with criticism from online publishers and advocates, as the app will play a major role in determining whether all Internet services should be accessible through their app or not.
The rebranding has been embraced by everyone, alongside a couple of other changes. However, not everyone is currently happy with Zuckerberg’s global mission. Access Now has lauded Facebook’s rebranding, as well as the other changes the company has made in the app. But, the public advocate is concerned that the app might put an end to the idea of Internet neutrality. The open letter addressed to Zuckerberg. which was published by Access Now on May, was signed by nearly 70 advocacy groups from 31 countries.
Facebook’s vice president, Chris Daniels, is in charge with the “Free Basics by Facebook” project. The project aims at sending satellites above developing areas in order to provide the poorest nations on Earth with free Internet.
Chris Daniels declared that he generally respects critics, but this time they just got it wrong. He said that the company has been listening to the prior critics the project has received and they made a number of improvements. Daniels stated that he finds it hard to understand how anyone living on this planet could be against the idea of free Internet. Daniels noted that no content will be blocked to anyone.
The concerns came as a result of critics believing that Facebook’s Android app will only offer access to a small part of the world wide web, such as services associated with Facebook.
The company is currently working with several wireless carriers to make the project a reality. The basic idea is that the service would offer Internet access to people who cannot afford to pay Internet services.
Photo credits: Wikimedia
