Search giant Google has quit the Facebook’s zero rated platform Internet.org now renamed FreeBasics, a Google spokesperson has confirmed.
Google had signed up for Internet.org in Zambia in July 2014, and according to a Facebook representative, had been live on the platform as of two weeks ago.
The Spokesperson confirmed the development, saying that it was only an initial trial that they were a part of.
“Google is not a partner in Free Basics or Internet.org. However, we were included in the initial trial of this project, which was first launched in Zambia,” the spokesperson said.
It was learnt that it was only in Zambia that Google had partnered for an initial trial of Free Basics, which is being strongly opposed by net neutrality over the world.
Explain more clearly! What are consequences now? Or what will happen?
Are you so lazy as not to pick it up from there & research it yourself??
Free Basics, née Internet.org, has faced a global backlash that began in India last April. Several Indian web publishers pulled out of the program, which lets some publishers offer pared-down versions of services to users free through a Facebook-built app. They worried that Facebook was conspiring with mobile carriers to determine which websites qualified for inclusion. They said this violated the principles of net neutrality—the idea Internet providers should treat all online service the same. The criticism gained momentum in May when nearly 70 advocacy groups released a letter to Zuckerberg protesting Internet.org, arguing it violated net neutrality principles and stirred security concerns.
One of Internet.org or Facebook’s objectives was to provide fast & free internet. I have never used the service but according to most users, surfing facebook via the service was really slow on top of Zambia’s own slow internet connections. Good riddance, in my opinion.