Meta’s Battle in India: Arrest Fears, Lobbying, and a Regulatory Showdown
A new book by former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams reveals Meta’s (formerly Facebook) struggles in India, including legal troubles and regulatory clashes. The company allegedly hired a former police captain to take the fall if executives were arrested. Facebook aggressively lobbied to keep its Free Basics program, which provided limited internet access but was banned in 2016 for violating net neutrality. Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg personally reached out to Indian officials, while Facebook spent millions on a public support campaign. Despite this, India’s telecom regulator (TRAI) blocked Facebook’s emails, reducing public submissions. This unexpected move disrupted months of planning. Meta has since taken legal action to block the book’s promotion, calling the claims misleading and outdated.
Meta’s Battle in India: Arrest Fears, Lobbying, and a Regulatory Showdown
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has faced significant challenges in India, including legal issues and regulatory conflicts, as revealed in a new book by former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams. Her memoir, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, exposes controversial practices by the company during its operations in India. One of the most startling claims in the book is that Facebook allegedly hired a former police officer to take the fall if any of its executives were arrested in the country.
The book also highlights Facebook’s aggressive efforts to keep its Free Basics program running in India. Free Basics was an initiative aimed at providing limited internet access to low-income users but was banned in 2016 for violating net neutrality principles, which ensure equal treatment of all internet traffic. Wynn-Williams claims that Facebook went to great lengths to protect the program. CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally reached out to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg contacted the minister responsible for internet regulations.
To build public support for Free Basics, Facebook launched a massive media campaign, spending millions of dollars on advertisements across TV, radio, newspapers, billboards, and SMS messages. The goal was to rally public backing and pressure the government to allow the program to continue. Facebook also leveraged its platform to encourage users to send letters to India’s telecom regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in support of Free Basics. Millions of users responded, overwhelming TRAI with submissions.
However, an unexpected turn of events disrupted Facebook’s efforts. A TRAI official opted out of receiving Facebook’s emails, significantly reducing the number of recorded submissions. This simple action caught Facebook off guard and derailed months of strategic planning and lobbying. Despite its aggressive campaign, the company ultimately failed, as TRAI sided with net neutrality advocates who argued that Free Basics gave Facebook excessive control over internet access.
Wynn-Williams’ book portrays a company willing to go to great lengths to protect its interests, sometimes crossing ethical boundaries. The allegations have sparked controversy, and Meta has taken legal action to prevent the author from promoting the book. The company has dismissed the claims as outdated, misleading, and motivated by anti-Facebook sentiment.
Facebook’s struggles in India serve as a cautionary tale about the difficulties tech giants face when navigating complex regulatory landscapes. The case also raises important questions about the balance between corporate ambitions and ethical responsibilities. While Free Basics was presented as a way to expand internet access for underserved communities, critics saw it as a self-serving attempt to grow Facebook’s user base. The ban on Free Basics marked a significant setback for the company and reflected growing resistance to tech corporations exerting too much influence over public infrastructure.
In summary, Sarah Wynn-Williams’ memoir provides an inside look at Facebook’s controversial strategies in India, from allegedly hiring a fall guy to executing a large-scale lobbying campaign. Despite its efforts, the company faced strong regulatory opposition, ultimately leading to the failure of Free Basics. The book serves as a stark reminder of the ethical dilemmas and power struggles that often accompany the global expansion of tech giants.