Changing profile picture using ‘Digital India’ tool not linked to support for Internet.org: Facebook

Facebook on Tuesday denied that changing profiles using the 'Digital India' tool on the social networking website was being used to show support for its Internet.org programme. The social media giant itself came out to rubbish these claims by Internet activists.

A Facebook spokesperson said:

“There is absolutely no connection between updating your profile picture for digital India and Internet.org. An engineer mistakenly used the words ‘Internet.org profile picture’ as a shorthand name he chose for part of the code. But this product in no way connects to or registers support for Internet.org. We are changing the code today to eliminate any confusion.”

The tri-colour profile picture tool, which was launched as a show of support to the Digital India initiative ahead of the Mark Zuckerberg’s townhall meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, faced heavy criticism after reports stated that the company planned to use the pictures to show support for its own Internet.org program.

Earlier, when Zuckerberg changed his profilfe picture, he posted:

I changed my profile picture to support Digital India, the Indian government's effort to connect rural communities to the internet and give people access to more services online. Looking forward to discussing this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Facebook today. Show your support for Digital India at: fb.com/supportdigitalindia

Facebook’s Internet.org has come under massive criticism in India over the current debate over net neutrality.