In its quest to expand Facebook has launched Free Basics to capture more users and thus more data.
As stated by Facebook:
“Free Basics by Facebook provides people with access to useful services on their mobile phones in markets where internet access may be less affordable. The websites are available for free without data charges.”
And as per Airtel:
You can do many things with Free Basics, like:
- Use Facebook to connect with friends & family
- Get up to date on global and local news
- Buy and sell things
- Get sports updates
- Find health and education information
Free basics has just been launched in Nigeria, in partnership with Airtel but is available in a total of 21 African nations including, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Angola .
Free Basics is designed for older devices that lack the most recent security updates. Hardware along with software that has been neglected by the manufacturer. Facebook have promised a streamlined developer process for new websites.
As one of the prime movers in the data selling business Facebook have prohibited developers from selling the data provided to allow for better website development. Facebook’s terms:
“Any data (e.g., proxy requests) or reporting we provide is deemed Facebook confidential information and cannot be used by you for any advertising purposes or shared with third parties.”
However, developers and end users may find that they are ultimately subject to the same arbitrary user privacy changes for which Facebook is infamous:
“We may update these terms from time to time as the Free Basics Platform evolves.”
The challenge with all of this new data will be in how well protected it is from malicious actors. As the sole gate-keeper between hundreds of millions of low-income, poorly informed customers and a stripped down internet, Facebook and their carrier partners will need to be extra vigilant and responsible. Likewise users will need to be wary of the tendency to overshare on social media.
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