Mark Zuckerberg goes on Distance to Facebook major investor – SPIEGEL ONLINE

For Facebook India is as rich chance as problematic terrain. On one hand, the Group could there millions of people online, thus bringing in its network. On the other hand make the Indian authorities problems and have Internet service from Facebook banned there.

Apparently from anger at the loss of opportunity between Facebook Board Marc Andreessen announced via Twitter to speak. He railed against the “economically suicidal” the Indian government decision. The ban of the Facebook service is directed against its own population.

Then came the dialog with another Twitter user to actually fateful post. The users gave Facebook before, the Internet Service is but the truth “Internet colonialism”. Andre food Answer: “anti-colonialism was economically disastrous for the people of India for decades Why now so stop it.?” The indignation and anger of Indian politicians and citizens promptly followed. Many understood Andre eating Tweet so that Indians should be glad that Facebook wants to bring them despite resistance Internet.

Andreessen deleted the Tweet indeed, apologized profusely, assured his “admiration for the people of India “and asserted that he was 100 percent against colonialism. But the outrage he could not stop it.

Even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg distanced himself from the major investors. He named Andre interest remarks “very upsetting” and stressed that she did not meet the views of Facebook or by him personally. Andreessen is considered the mastermind tech industry. As a young man, he developed the first browser Mosaic and Netscape successor, thus creating one of the foundations of today’s Internet. He also belongs to the influential board of Facebook.

The fact that diplomacy is not one of his strengths, Andreessen has woken apparently. “I will continue to refer all comments on this topic people more knowledge and experience than I have,” he announced via Twitter also.

The crop damage for Facebook in India but is expected to be enormous. Firstly Andreessen may have confirmed his statements the reservations of critics against the US group, on the other hand are likely to further discussions with the Indian government now not be easier.

Indian authorities had to Facebooks project for free access some online services a bolt pushed forward. Regulators prohibited telecom providers generally exemptions for individual services.

Criticism on Facebook Offer

Of is also affected Facebook’s offer “Free Basics”. The sector supervision TRAI pointed to a strict implementation of the rules for so-called net neutrality, according to which all data must be treated equally in the nets. In Free Basics and similar offerings but that was not the case. So has the free Facebook service in India, for example, only a very limited Internet access. Besides Facebook itself only some education, health and job sites are accessible. Other sites can not be accessed via Free Basics and would thus be at a disadvantage.

For Facebook the ban is a painful defeat -. The US group had organized in recent weeks in the face of the impending ban a massive PR campaign in the country

Facebook is on new Internet users from developing and emerging countries depend on to continue to grow rapidly. About one billion of the almost 1.3 billion Indians still have no access to the Internet.