Digital India and ‘free’ Internet.
Mark Zuckerberg‘s speech at the United Nations was followed up by an announcement about providing free Internet to India – soon to be the world’s most populous nation.
Many Indian politicians rejoiced and Facebook prompted all Indians to proudly overlay a digital tricolor – the flag of India – on their Facebook profile pictures.
Is this the grand beginning of a Digital India?
Some Indians aren’t all too pleased, calling the prompt a mockery of truth.
According to an article originating from Indian publications:
“You may think this tricolor filtered profile picture is a gesture to support Digital India. However, it is not. There seems to be a hidden agenda behind Zuckerberg’s support for Digital India, and that is Internet.org– Facebook’s much-criticized anti-net neutrality project – which has now been renamed to “Free Basics.”
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.”
With Internet Neutrality being a hot issue among Internet providers in the US, Facebook’s move should be examined carefully and scrutinized.
For more information on this debate, click here.
Not many things are really free ……..once thoroughly examined
With a GDP of about $2 trillion, I don’t think India is a developing country.