How a TRAI Official Outsmarted Zuckerberg’s Free Basics Campaign

TECH

By Aniket Chakraborty Mar 18, 2025 Arrow

TRAI’s public consultation: India’s telecom regulator opened consultations to decide whether Free Basics should be banned.

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Facebook’s mass email campaign: Facebook allegedly sent 16 million automated emails to TRAI to create “public support” for Free Basics.

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Low-ranking official’s move: A TRAI official neutralized Facebook’s campaign by opting out of all emails from the company.

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Zuckerberg outsmarted: The official’s single click reportedly outmaneuvered Zuckerberg and his team’s months-long strategy.

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Facebook’s political influence: The company leveraged its deep government connections, including with PM Modi’s office, to sway policy.

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Hiring ex-police captain: Facebook allegedly hired an ex-police officer ready to face legal consequences to protect executives.

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Meta’s response to memoir: Meta dismissed the claims, calling them outdated and accusing the author of poor performance and bias.

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Book’s availability: Despite Meta’s attempts to block it, the memoir Careless People is available for purchase in India.

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Free Basics banned: TRAI ultimately banned Free Basics in India for violating net neutrality, a major setback for Facebook.

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