Facebook opened up Internet.org to developers on Monday, and a strong backlash immediately ensued. Opponents expressed concerns over the fact it compromises net neutrality principals. Internet.org favors access to some websites and mobile apps over others.
Facebook’s CEO Zuckerberg opens up about Internet.org
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg explained that it was not sustainable to offer the entire internet for free. In a video, he further elaborated by saying it costs tens of billions of dollars to run the web every year. No operator could afford all this if it were free. He said it was sustainable to create free basic services that are simpler and use less data.
One campaigner from Delhi, India believes the protests against the new offer would continue. Internet.org allows partnered mobile networks to use a limited number of online service without extra charge. Interested network operators participate because they believe users will pay wider internet access after they see what the free content has to offer.
The project’s ultimate goal
The project already launched in many other countries including India, Guatemala, Indonesia, Tanzania and others in 2014. To access the facility, tech users must tap into the service via Android apps, Internet.org’s website, Opera Mini browser or Facebook’s Android app.
Internet.org was designed to offer access to pared-down versions of healthcare information, education, job listings, and agricultural information. Zuckerberg’s involvement with the project also ensures users can stay connected to loved ones via Facebook and it’s messaging services.
The platform is available for all developers who meet certain guidelines. One of those guidelines is that they produce content accessible on the web and mobile devices. The websites also have to be accessible in limited bandwidth situations. A few months ago, Facebook teamed up with Reliance Communications to start Internet.org. A small number of e-commerce companies and content developers already pulled out of the project over concerns it violated net neutrality.
