We lobby for net neutrality, but also push for access: Zuckerberg

In his first townhall in India, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company was working on an open framework to provide free internet access even as it continued to lobby for net neutrality.

His remarks come in the face of Facebook’s internet.org, renamed Free Basics, stirring a controversy for violating the principle of net neutrality by providing free access to certain pre-approved content.

“We do a lot to support (net neutrality) in terms of regulations, we are working on building an open framework. We lobby for it (net neutrality) across the world but, at the same time, continue to push for access,” he said.

Addressing a gathering of around 1,100 people at IIT Delhi, Zuckerberg, 31, said wider access will be good for India as many can get information on jobs, education and health.

He said the country played a huge role in Facebook’s ‘mission of connecting a billion people’ to the internet. “India is the world’s largest democracy and we have 130 million users here. It’s a mission for us to help provide access to the internet.” On the opposition to Free Basics, especially from telecom operators and internet activists, Zuckerberg said there should be a thought on ‘availability, affordability and awareness’, which are important for connecting people.

“You cannot provide the whole internet for free, and we are not bringing a filter to any content that goes in it (in Free Basics). We need to get people on to the internet,” he said, adding that operators are spending billions of dollars on infrastructure and Facebook supports them.

However, he said regulations were also important, and just like the US had come out with regulations on net neutrality earlier this year, Facebook was waiting for other countries to follow suit.

Zuckerberg, on his second visit here, said India is important for Facebook’s operations and the company would abide by the country’s regulations.

Supporting zero-rating plans of telecos, he said, “…to those who advocate against zero-rating, I say look at a student who wants free access to the internet for studies. Who gets hurt by that?

“Around the world, all the regulations are honouring this principle. Prioritising zero-rating is necessary to connect everyone to the internet.”

After the townhall, Zuckerberg met telecom major Bharti Airtel chief Sunil Bharti Mittal.

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