Internet rights and advocacy groups have written an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg criticising Facebook's Free Basics program for undermining the principles of net neutrality. The 31 groups from across the world called the program "disingenuous" in its plans to bring "digital equality for all Indians." "It is concerning that Facebook -- which says it supports Net Neutrality -- would attack those who have sought to enshrine this fundamental principle in law," the groups wrote in the open letter, which was published on Facebook. "Rather than create digital equality as your petition claims, Facebook’s Free Basics program risks exacerbating digital inequality."
Among the 31 groups that signed the letter were Access Now, OpenMedia, and the US-based Center for Media Justice. The other groups hail from countries including India, Pakistan, Panama, Brazil and Uganda.
The Free Basics program -- part of Facebook's internet.org initiative -- is a plan to provide basic internet services and content to people's mobile phones in 36 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific and South America. It was paused in India in December after the Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched a review into whether it compromised net neutrality. It was also paused in Egypt shortly after.
Facebook's response was to publish full-page adverts in Indian newspapers urging users to sign a petition against TRAI. Zuckerberg also wrote an editorial in the Timesof India that argued Free Basics protects net neutrality, and insisted that "India must choose facts over fiction."
But in their open letter, the rights organisations contradicted his claims of factual superiority. "In its quest to gain support for its controversial Free Basics program, Facebook continues to assert statistics and arguments — most recently in a full-page ad in some of India's biggest newspapers — that lack proper sourcing and that rely on straw man arguments," they wrote.
They argue that Free Basics will "exacerbate digital inequality" by making some services free and others paid-for. "If you think access to the internet is a right like access to health care and clean drinking water, then Facebook should support affordable access to the entire internet for everyone, not access only to those services that Facebook or its partners deem acceptable," the letter continued.
When asked about internet.org on his Facebook page shortly after the letter was published, Zuckerberg commented, "Surveys show that 86 percent of Indians are in favour of offering Free Basics, but a number of activists are opposed. The government will soon decide what it wants to happen. India has more than 1 billion people who are not connected to the internet, and I hope we can help get everyone connected."
He is yet to respond directly to the letter, and WIRED has reached out to Facebook for comment.
India's TRAI will deliver its verdict on whether Free Basics compromises net neutrality at the end of this month.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
