AT&T halting some free data services in response to California law

WASHINGTON: AT&T Inc said Wednesday it will halt some free data services in response to a California net neutrality law, the latest flashpoint in an ongoing debate over internet rules.

The U.S. wireless carrier said the state law bans “sponsored data” services that allowed companies such as video providers to pay for some data usage of certain AT&T wireless customers.

“Given that the Internet does not recognize state borders, the new law not only ends our ability to offer California customers such free data services but also similarly impacts our customers in states beyond California,” AT&T said in a statement.