Zuckerberg Says Facebook Official’s Comments On India ‘Deeply Upsetting’

Hours after Facebook official Marc Andreessen was forced to delete a tweet offensive to India, founder Mark Zuckerberg put out a strong disclaimer calling his comments “deeply upsetting”.

“I want to respond to Marc Andreessen’s comments about India. I found the comments deeply upsetting, and they do not represent the way Facebook or I think at all,” Zuckerberg posted. “India has been personally important to me and Facebook. Early on in my thinking about our mission, I traveled to India and was inspired by the humanity, spirit and values of the people. It solidified my understanding that when all people have the power to share their experiences, the entire world will make progress,” he wrote.
Earlier Andreessen, a Facebook board member, provoked furious reactions with a tweet that appeared to say that Indians should have embraced colonialism.
“Anti-colonialism has been economically catastrophic for the Indian people for decades. Why stop now?” he tweeted, weighing in on India banning differential pricing for internet data content, a decision that strikes down Facebook’s free internet scheme.
Barraged by outrage, Andreessen deleted the comment. A screenshot, however, was circulated and reactions kept pouring in. He later put out an apology.
Telecom regulator TRAI backed net neutrality and banned differential pricing for data, which means no content can be offered at discounted rates.
Facebook said in a statement: “While disappointed with the outcome, we will continue our efforts to eliminate barriers and give the unconnected an easier path to the internet.”

Free Basics has been described by Mr Zuckerberg as a way of bringing the internet to millions of Indians in rural India. The scheme allowed users to access – at no charge – Facebook’s own social network and messaging services, along with the content of its partners.