Facebook Inc.'sFree Basics program was blockedin Egypt on Dec. 30, 2015, after the social networkinggiant declined to allow the government to spy on its users, Reuters reportedApril 1, citing two sources with direct knowledge of the talks between Egyptianauthorities and the company.

While a spokesman for Egypt's Ministry of Communicationdeclined to comment on the surveillance claims, he said the nationaltelecommunication regulator believed the service to be harmful to companies andtheir rivals as it was being offered for free.