Mark Zuckerberg Speaks Out in opposition to Marc Andreessen’s “Deeply Upsetting” feedback

Pavithra Mohan February 10 2016

Mark Zuckerberg did harm keep an eye on thru a pandering facebook publish this afternoon, in which he denounced fb board member Marc Andreessen’s comments defending colonialism in India.

On Tuesday night time, Andreessen took to Twitter to opine that Indian regulators should no longer have banned Free basics, facebook’s free app offering restricted web get admission to. in line with a Twitter person who compared Free basics to “web colonialism,” Andreessen insinuated that the Indian economy had tanked on account of the usa’s anti-colonial policies. In doing so, the undertaking capitalist further marred Free basics’s reputation—which has already taken a beating in India—by using pairing it with the notion of colonialism.

Zuckerberg was quick to distance himself—and fb—from Andreessen’s tone-deaf comments. “I want to respond to Marc Andreessen’s feedback about India (February 14, 2016),” he wrote in his publish. “i discovered the comments deeply upsetting, and they don’t represent the way in which facebook or i believe in any respect.”

He reiterated facebook’s relationship with India, which has taken a hit following the country’s rejection of Free basics. “As our group in India has grown, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the want to be mindful India’s historical past and tradition,” he wrote. “i have been inspired by way of how a lot progress India has made in building a powerful nation and the most important democracy on the earth, and that i stay up for strengthening my connection to the united states.”

here is Zuckerberg’s full publish:

I need to respond to Marc Andreessen’s feedback about India (February 14, 2016). i found the feedback deeply upsetting, and they don’t represent the way in which facebook or i feel at all.

India has been in my view vital to me and facebook. Early on in my fascinated with our mission, I traveled to India and was inspired via the humanity, spirit and values of the folks. It solidified my figuring out that after all individuals have the ability to share their experiences, your complete world will make development.

facebook stands for serving to to attach people and giving them voice to shape their own future. however to shape the future we want to remember the previous. As our group in India has grown, I’ve won a deeper appreciation for the need to understand India’s history and culture. i have been impressed by using how so much development India has made in building a strong nation and the most important democracy in the world, and that i look ahead to strengthening my connection to the us of a.