Millions of dollars billed for a free service: Facebook’s failed promise to poor people

Thanks to Facebook, millions of people without connection have access to the Internet for free. This is how we could sum up the tale that the American firm wants to impose. The reality is quite different revealed on Tuesday Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Facebook has reportedly entered into agreements with mobile operators in Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines to offer low-income people a free version of Facebook as well as browsing other websites without paying data charges. But this service was actually billed to the beneficiaries by the operation’s local partners. Estimated cost in 2021: nearly $8 million per month, according to the WSJ. A salty note, and far from the initial promise.