Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defends effort to expand Internet access

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his company's contentious efforts to expand Internet access in the developing world during his second visit to India in 2015.

The company's free platform offering a basic level of Internet access via Android devices has been introduced to 24 countries and has amassed about 15 million users, mostly in Africa and Asia, Zuckerberg said. He said it could help alleviate poverty in India by providing information to the poor and contributing to development of the economy. Zuckerberg rejected the criticism as a luxury of those who can afford access to the Internet. He said limiting content on the Free Basics platform was necessary, because "you cannot provide the whole Internet for free." "We deeply care about servicing the Indian community and giving them the best tools. That's why I want to be here," said Zuckerberg. There are still about 1 billion Indians with no Internet access.