Modi’s Digital India has made such a big deal of itself in the US that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has the Indian flag superimposed on his Facebook profile picture.
Is it just a usual hype surrounding PM Modi or is something really happening? Is India once again the victim of availability cascade or not? As always, the rhetoric and promises are impressive and one supports every endeavour of the prime minister in realising them. The media (though mostly Indian) is talking all (and only) about Digital India’s trip overseas.
FACEBOOK’S RETURN GIFT FOR SUPPORTING INDIA?
This is not that much difficult to understand:
When a Politician does something it might be good for the Country, but When a Businessman does something it is definitely good for his Business.Â
What Facebook will get in return for promoting India’s Project?
Digital India plans to connect rural areas with high-speed internet networks, but at what cost?
We all know: India is one of the biggest markets for Facebook, not just in terms of size, but also in terms of Revenue. Therefore, Facebook’s support for ‘Digital India‘ could indirectly mean to market its Internet.org project.
Yes, in the name of Modi’s Digital India, Zuckerberg is silently promoting his Internet.org Campaign, which will potentially kill the Internet freedom in the Country.
Facebook, in collaboration with six companies, including Samsung, Media Tek, Software Nokia, Opera, Ericsson, and Qualcomm, launched Internet.org that aims at providing Free Internet services to developing nations.
This move by Facebook is not exactly what it looks like. It actually is a blow to our Internet freedom and Net Neutrality, the one we are fighting for long.
Here’s Why:
The Facebook’s free Internet service will be available to Reliance users only.
Internet.org gives ‘free access’ only to Facebook and its 50 partner websites, which limits Internet users to stick to those services only.
This Facebook Project is not giving Free Internet to people, instead giving free access to manipulated-Internet that Facebook wants users to see.
Isn’t this violation of Net Neutrality? When Internet provider will decide what we are going to see on the Internet.
Threats:
Death of Start-ups. With this move, we closed doors for another FlipKart or SnapDeal.
Death of Small businesses. Local businesses will not grow, as the site who will pay more will be part of Facebook’s free Internet project.
Your Internet Remote in Facebook’s Hand. With internet.org, you are indirectly giving Facebook more power to control what you can access on the Internet.
Also Don’t forget to look into the real facet Section 66A of #DigitalIndia:
New Law similar to Section 66A:With Digital India project, Government is actually working on new law similar to 66A. To refresh your memory, 66A was about anything but human values being aimed solely at muzzling dissent and differences of opinion on the internet.
POOR PEOPLE, “1st PROVIDE FREE DEVICES, THEN FREE INTERNET.”
Okay, let’s ignore all these points and believe that Facebook really wants to provide Free Internet access to those poor people who cannot afford data packages provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
But think about it, if a person is unable to afford data packages, how he/she will possibly be able to afford a device that is required to access even Facebook’s Free Internet?
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