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| '''Internet.org''' is a global initiative led by Facebook to bring Internet connectivity to "diverse, local communities". <ref>[http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2015/05/announcing-the-internet-org-platform/ Announcing the Internet.org Platform. Retrieved 12 Nov 2015.]</ref> The project is combined effort between seven major telecommunication companies, including [[Ericsson]], [[Mediatek]], [[Opera]], [[Samsung]], [[facebook]], [[Nokia]], and [[Qualcomm]].
| | #REDIRECT [[Free Basics]] |
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| The non-profit has identified three major areas for exploration including:
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| * Affordability--Supporters will work together to ensure access to the Internet isn't a barrier.
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| * Efficiency--Supporters will build and strengthen the infrastructure needed to keep the Internet stable.
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| * Business Models--"Developers, mobile operators and device manufacturers will work together to introduce business models that give people more ways to go online."
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| ==One Year In==
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| According to a company blog post, the project and its '[[Free Basics]]' app marked its one-year anniversary in Zambia. The post highlighted the organization's progress in increasing the number of Internet users through their services. Citing that more than half of its users are paying for data and accessing the Internet within 30 days. Another cited positive angle of the organization's service includes data surrounded healthcare access--more than a million users accessed such information over the course of a month. <ref>[http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2015/07/one-year-in-internet-org-free-basic-services/ One Year In. Retrieved 13 Nov 2015.]</ref>
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| ==Criticisms==
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| ===Net Neutrality===
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| Since its launch in 2013, several net neutrality activists have criticized the project for 'zero rating', which is the preferential treatment of certain websites or streaming services, over others. This results in an uneven playing field, and magnifies barriers to access on the Internet. Facebook's initiative does this by providing 'Free Basics', a collection of sites that relay weather, health and local data for users. <ref>[https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Internet.org+criticism Internet.org Criticism. Retrieved 12 Nov 2015.]</ref>
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| In 2016 February, India banned Free Basics for "discriminatory tariffs for data services", aka zero rating".<ref name="india">[http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/08/india-bans-zero-rating-internet-schemes/ India bans Facebook's 'Free Basics' service], EnGadget.com. Published 2016 February 8. Retrieved 2016 April 20.</ref> This came after India's regulator called for Reliance Communications, Facebook's Indian telecom partner, to stop Free Basics in 2015 December. In response, the company reportedly spent millions on advertising and had an op-ed published by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the Times of India.<ref name="india"></ref>
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| ==References==
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