As the Wednesday deadline set by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to make a decision on whether it would allow the service nears its end, both Facebook and its critics have been waging a social media war trying to get people to email the regulator messages in support of their particular position.
All this has provided social media users rich fodder for jokes about Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and his Free Basics project. Here’s a selection.
FreeBasics is the missionaries of charity of the internet world and Zuck is Mother Teresa. You hate one, like other though.
— PoliticallyIncorrect (@reviewero) December 29, 2015
Facebook's Free basics will help poor and Zuckerberg in the same way like Congress policies helped poor and Congress in 60yrs
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) December 29, 2015
#RedditorMade exaggerated ads for Free Basics #NetNeutrality #RedditIndiaDiscussion: https://t.co/t64YZXbgla pic.twitter.com/5CDWeWBI6x
— Reddit India (@redditindia) December 29, 2015
FB is currently one veg biryani, one bus ride and one political rally away from buying the support of people for Free Basics
— Aditi Mittal (@awryaditi) December 29, 2015
Mark Zuckerberg asking his daughter to 'Voice Her Opinions' on Free Basics. pic.twitter.com/CDxpWWaZid
— Sand-d Singh (@Sand_In_Deed) December 29, 2015
Zuckerberg removed Candy Crush requests. As they were annoying. Fooling people to support Free Basics makes me want to support Candy Crush.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) December 29, 2015
Only thing left for Mark Zuckerberg is to come and promote Free Basics on Comedy nights with Kapil.
— dorku (@Dorkstar) December 29, 2015
Stupid people on Facebook are proudly signing up for Free Basics without knowing what it is. Reminds me of my Engineering college days.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) December 28, 2015
Won't be surprised if they are running 'Hot, single #FreeBasics in your area" popups on Youporn.
— वरुण (@varungrover) December 28, 2015
Satyanarayana puja is the Free Basics of Hindu rituals.
— oculus (@daddy_san) December 28, 2015
Free Basics ad on Billboards has so much text that no person in a car or bike can read it, except those who sleep on footpaths. Masterstroke
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) December 26, 2015
Unable to look at a full-page newspaper ad for #FreeBasics without not-so-fondly remembering Arindam Chaudhuri and IIPM.
— Nigel Britto (@NigelBritto) December 30, 2015
How about calling #FreeBasics Rajiv Gandhi Internet Yojna? Will that lead to withdrawal of protests?
— बोधिसत्त्व (@Bodhisatvaa) December 30, 2015
So much for that 'winter' Bombay had for a grand total of 3 days. Felt like nature was giving us a Free Basics version of Bangalore weather.
— Deepak (@chuck_gopal) December 30, 2015
Free basics is the new Dilwale. The paper piece in which I was having my samosa also had the Free basics Ad.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) December 30, 2015
What is your opinion on FreeBasics? Indian guy- FREE????? Say no more.
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) December 29, 2015
Looks like Free Basics is going be the real AppWapsi.
— José Covaco (@HoeZaay) December 29, 2015
I guess @nixxin will love this spoof on @facebook #FreeBasics Great work pic.twitter.com/uoZQJ2j0tp
— Suhas Patel (@suhas_patel) December 30, 2015
Free Basics is the new Candy Crush notification.
— thewisecrab (@thewisecrab) December 28, 2015
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