Though it is true that Free Basics is the first step to connecting 1 billion Indians to the opportunities online, it is entirely a made up fact that it will achieve digital equality in India.
Free Basics is a Facebook's initiative along with Internet.org (also founded by Facebook) to include content on mobile phones like news, employment, health, education and local information without data charges.
So why is it bad?
Well along with the said free content, free basics also roll out facebook and all its associated apps to everyone. That is a really good marketing strategy to basically provide facebook to EVERYONE. Oh wait but that is not the only reason why I am writing this long post.
Well along with the said free content, free basics also roll out facebook and all its associated apps to everyone. That is a really good marketing strategy to basically provide facebook to EVERYONE. Oh wait but that is not the only reason why I am writing this long post.
The fact that facebook supports digital equality in India is complete BS. Digital Equality means the whole internet is open and is available to all. Free Basics and digital/net equality/neutrality are two very different things. Free Basics is not free internet access; it is a very-very restricted app that connects users to FB and a few partner websites only. So the rest of the internet is excluded.
So facebook is doing its bit for the cause of digital equality, right?
The basic principle of internet is to keep it open - i.e. network providers should not restrict access to any part of the internet. The internet was founded on this principle. If not for it - we would all be using hotmail of the old days, no sir no google - you search on yahoo only, What? What is skype - there is only yahoo messenger, excuse me - there is nothing called social media leave alone FB, youtube? And the worst of all - we would all be using internet explorer 6. Get my point?
The basic principle of internet is to keep it open - i.e. network providers should not restrict access to any part of the internet. The internet was founded on this principle. If not for it - we would all be using hotmail of the old days, no sir no google - you search on yahoo only, What? What is skype - there is only yahoo messenger, excuse me - there is nothing called social media leave alone FB, youtube? And the worst of all - we would all be using internet explorer 6. Get my point?
Thanks to the internet being open - it not only helped companies like Google and FB challenge Microsoft and Yahoo successfully, it also accelerated the process of innovation by making content available to all.
Free basics is just a propaganda which is making money off the show run by facebook and reliance. Remember nothing is free, It all comes down to business with the cost of internet. And thanks again to free internet that you are reading this post.
Internet is yours, don't let it control by someone else. Signing the petition makes a difference the same way you not signing it. Educate yourself, don't sign the petition by facebook!
