Free Basics:Say no to digital colonisation

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A week back,when I logged into facebook,it has kept ready a petition from me to TRAI,which only requires me to press a 'submit' button to convey my support to the free basics(earlier called the Internet.org). This irritated me to the core.It shows how a company can use it's dominant position to fool the regulators. Facebook's aggressive campaign to save the free basics has received support from many facebook users. Unfortunately most of them did so,without fully understanding what it really is.     

Free basics gives free access to a list websites, which satisfy the basic conditions set by it. Disguised as an attempt to bring digital equality and inclusiveness,it mainly is an attempt by facebook to ward off the threat for it's existence. As they are, technological innovations tend to become outdated within a short span of time,either because the original idea loses it's sheen or it is overcome by a new idea or innovation.As we can observe, when facebook acquired Whatsapp for a price much higher than it's market valuation,many were surprised.But it was one of the best decisions made by it. When the social networking habit of people was being shifted from facebook towards messaging apps like whatsapp,it tactically preserved it's relevance and popularity by that acquisition. Now comes this Free Basics.

The business model of social networking sites like facebook are directly related to how many people are on internet. More the people, more the advertising revenue for them.It is the basic intension behind the free basics,definitely not the philanthropy of bringing digital equality. Nothing wrong with the intension. But the way it tried to do it is a cause for concern. It's way,which violates net neutrality is something we all need to fight strongly.We should not allow facebook to become gatekeeper of internet.

How important is net neutrality for a common man? Many people argue,what is the use of net neutrality,when there is no net equality.But they forget that it is net neutrality,that made internet a field of innovation and limitless possibilities. To illustrate simply, let's take example of e-commerce sites.Today we have break-neck competition among Flipkart, Amazon,Snapdeal,which has brought lots of advantages and choices for the customer. But now consider a situation,where only Flipkart is brought on platforms like free basics and airtel zero.Initially everything will be fine,as we will be enjoying shopping free of data charges on flipkart.But as the time passes, Amazon and Snapdeal being at disadvantage of this arrangement will wither away. Now when Flipkart establishes it's monopoly over e-commerce,it can price the things at it's wish,which will have a disastrous consequences for a ordinary consumer. This will be replicated in every area of internet like cab services,catering services,mobile services etc. So we should move step by step towards digital equality,without ever compromising on net neutrality. Less,it will be converted into traditional marketplace, where inequality in opportunity is ubiquitous.

India has largest proportion of people not on internet. Bringing everyone on internet is an important goal for us.It is also first step in making e-governance,inclusive and effective. We can do it in many alternative ways. Facebook can set up free Wi-Fi,as Google is planning to do in railway stations.We can give free internet data packs to people not on internet. Or we can credit subsidies for data packs to poor people under direct benefit transfer(DBT) schemes like LPG subsidy. Facebook can be a meaningful partner in such government initiatives. But under Free Basics,though it is theoretically open for all websites,facebook will end up becoming gatekeeper of internet. It is the newer way of creating digital colonies,which we all should oppose. No connectivity is much better than such a distorted connectivity.

Say no to Free Basics,Say no to digital colonisation!

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