In particular, see the bits on ‘Net neutrality criticism’ and ‘Impact’
TLDR: Accessing Facebook is easier or even free, accessing the rest of the internet costs money. Thus making it so poorer communities only use Facebook, and say that “Facebook is the Internet”
Few quotes:
In 2015, researchers evaluating how Facebook Zero shapes information and communication technology use in the developing world found that 11% of Indonesians who said they used Facebook also said they did not use the Internet. 65% of Nigerians, 61% of Indonesians, and 58% of Indians agree with the statement that “Facebook is the Internet”
[Internet.org] has been criticized for violating net neutrality, and by handpicking internet services that are included, for discriminating against companies not in the list, including competitors of Meta Platforms’ subsidiary Facebook.[5][6] In February 2016, regulators banned the Free Basics service in India based on “Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations”.[7] The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) accused Facebook of failing to pass on the four questions in the regulator’s consultation paper and also blocking access to TRAI’s designated email for feedback on Free Basics.[8][9] On February 11, 2016, Facebook withdrew the Free Basics platform from India.[10] In July 2017, Global Voices published the widespread[11][12] report[13][14] “Free Basics in Real Life” analyzing its practices in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and concluding it violates net neutrality, focuses on “Western corporate content”,[11] and overall “it’s not even very helpful”.[12]
Here is a list of the countries, at least for Facebook Zero:
List of countriesJordan: Zain Jordan Albania: Telekom Albania; Vodafone Albania Algeria: Djezzy;[14] Mobilis Angola: Unitel S.A. Bosnia and Herzegovina: ERONET Bangladesh: Grameenphone Benin: MTN Group Cameroon: MTN Group Canada: Freedom Mobile Croatia: Bonbon;[15] Hrvatski Telekom;[16] MultiPlus Mobile;[17] Simpa;[18] Tomato;[19] Vipnet El Salvador: Movistar Fiji: Digicel France: SFR Germany: E-Plus[20] Ortel Greece: WIND Hellas[21] Georgia: MagtiCom Guinea: MTN Group Indonesia: XL Axiata Kenya: Airtel Kenya Kosovo: iPKO Malaysia: DiGi Morocco: Maroc Telecom Nepal: Ncell[22] Pakistan: Telenor Pakistan; Jazz Pakistan, Zong Pakistan[23][24][25][26] Palestine: Jawwal[27] Panama: Cable & Wireless Communications Philippines: Globe Telecom, Smart,[28] Poland: Play[29] Qatar: Vodafone Qatar Saudi Arabia: Saudi Telecom Company[30] South Africa: CellC (Discontinued the service), Vodacom, MTN Group Suriname: Digicel Trinidad and Tobago: Digicel United Arab Emirates: Du[31] United Kingdom: Three Zimbabwe: Telecel Zimbabwe Zambia: Airtel Zambia