Facebook turns to users to ''save Internet.org'' in India

New Delhi, Aug 7

With only a week to the deadline for feedback on a DoT panel's report, Facebook has started a campaign for users’ support in India to defend its platform Internet.org.

Facebook users have been reportedly getting messages from the social network enlisting their support to save the platform.

"Do you want India to have free basic online services? The mission of Internet.org is to get everyone in the world online. Show your support for free basic online services in India," the message that pops up on a Facebook user's homepage reads.

 "Soon India will decide on the future of services like Internet.org. Please comment on this post today to help us tell your MPs that you want to connect everyone in India.

?#?connectindia? ?#?connecttheworld," the message says further.

 Many MPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and most of the Cabinet, have their Facebook pages.

Until June end, Facebook had over 125 million users in the country. 

The DoT panel's report on net neutrality will close for public comments on August 15. So far, it has received just over 500 views against over 10 lakh messages that were sent to regulator TRAI through an online campaign in support of implementing ideal net neutrality in India.

Net neutrality implies that equal treatment be accorded to all Internet traffic and no priority be given to an entity or company based on payment to content or service providers such as telecom companies, which is seen as discriminatory.

The DoT panel has opposed projects like Facebook's Internet.org, which allow access to certain websites without mobile data charges. The data charges are borne by the websites or Internet Service Provider.         

Internet.org is a Facebook-led initiative that aims to bring 5 billion people online in partnership with tech giants like Samsung and Qualcomm as well as mobile operators. In India, it had tied up with Reliance Communications. The panel, which discussed Facebook's Internet.org, said that until April 2015, Internet.org users could have free access for only a few websites. It argued that Facebook's role as gatekeeper in determining what websites were on that list was seen as violating Net neutrality.

The panel said: "Collaborations between telecom operators and content providers that enable such gate-keeping role to be played by any entity should be actively discouraged".

Facebook has defended the platform saying the initiative was a "gateway" to provide low-cost access to the Internet.

The neutrality debate flared up in the country after telecom major Airtel launched a platform, Airtel Zero, that would allow free access to some websites on its network.

The platform was criticised for being violating Net Neutrality on the ground that it discouraged Internet based start-ups with low finances and could check growth of Internet eco-system in the country.

The panel, however, has favoured allowing zero-rating platforms, like Airtel Zero, but on the condition that operators seek telecom regulator TRAI’s permission for their launch, sources said. — PTI