Facebook has announced the Internet.org Platform, "an open program for developers to easily create services that integrate with Internet.org." The partnership is designed to deliver affordable Internet access to the developing world. However the initiative has been criticized for violating net neutrality:
Facebook says it will allow more websites and other online services to join its "free mobile data" Internet.org scheme.
The announcement follows a backlash against the initiative. Opponents suggest it compromises the principles of net neutrality, because it favours access to some sites and apps over others.
But Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg said it was "not sustainable to offer the whole internet for free". "It costs tens of billions of dollars every year to run the internet, and no operator could afford this if everything were free," he said in an online video posted to Internet.org's website.
Also discussed at TechCrunch, Ars Technica, Gizmodo, and Quartz.
Previously:
Internet Access in Developing World With Drones
Facebook's Internet.org - "Internet-For-Everyone" - Launches in Zambia
India Debates Net Neutrality
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday May 05 2015, @04:49PM
I went to internet.org, but just got a blank purple page. It creepily reminded me of Barney and that's Not Barney Fife.
Ad-Block Plus is blocking these specific items:
https://ad.atdmt.com/m/a.js;m=11002201399269;cache=0.9823928656859524?/ [atdmt.com]
https://djgefctqm8nri.cloudfront.net/assets/images/fb-loader.gif?v=c4fb2b3/ [cloudfront.net]
https://djgefctqm8nri.cloudfront.net/assets/images/story/internet-facebook-logo.png?v=c4fb2b3/ [cloudfront.net]
It seems odd that Blocking of a few items would keep the entire page from loading, well except for the purple background.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday May 05 2015, @05:45PM
What did you expect, it's Zuckerberg's baby ;)
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]