Facebook is vehemently advertising for Free Basics over the internet over the past few days. Also, we saw their one page advertisement in newspapers for 2 consecutive days.
What do they say : (The Gist) They will connect millions of people with a smartphone but no money to pay for data services with the internet. And increase connectivity giving a chance to people to access jobs and other services.
How does it sound !?
It sounds like a good idea, and Facebook is thinking so much about the poor people and how they can contribute to the society at large.
It did sound like a great idea to us as well when we read the advertisement by Facebook.
But I also read a few valid questions raised by the people who oppose it.
- If people have the money to buy a smartphone but no money to pay for data usage (though I don’t agree of such a condition), will they want to ever look beyond the free service by Facebook?
- How much of internet would they be able to access ? I mean sites like Facebook and the others which Facebook agree to give access to the people via their service?
- Who gives the right to Facebook to decide on the pattern in which people will start using internet specially as a first time user?
- If Facebook teams up with some big technology giants or big websites and reaches to people without them to have to pay for internet, then why would people want to pay for data usage and check content of small startups ? Who will be at loss in this case ?
- Would it not be a complete ecosystem that Facebook would be operating eventually ? And accessing a bigger market (of paid and unpaid data usage users ) and just driving out any possible future competition ?
- Would it not be a loss of startup culture in any country affected by such free basics program ?
- Would any startup not have to accept the Supremeness of Facebook and comply to their terms and condition should they wish to reach a bigger market ?
- Would Facebook not be controlling and accessing the usage pattern of an all the more bigger number of internet users ?
- Does it not sound like a situation where they do not want to lose a big market like China to a regional Social Networking Player like Weibo and they do not want another Weibo to happen in a country like India ?
- Who is paying for the Data Usage in this Free Basics Program ? If it’s actually the Telecom Companies, like in this case its Reliance Gio then how would they benefit eventually?
- If it’s actually for the benefit of the people, can’t the telecom companies allow free internet access of a few MB(data) to users and let them choose how they wish to use it ?
- Not many of you would be aware but Facebook has already done beta testing of showing all possible service providers in your area using their website.
This kind of a service when coupled with Free Basics would completely drive out
any possible competition for the market.
Then is it not using Money Power to kill any possible innovation?
Technologies33 believes: It’s more of a vociferous attempt by Facebook to capture a huge market of users by giving them internet for free and kill any possible competition threat, which is why you would see it being promoted only on Facebook or on Reliance Gio Sites or some one pager ads in the newspaper.
They want the numbers to show TRAI of how much people support their Program. They have done all analysis to reach the right people who would not use a lot of brains and support them.
They have even advertised to support to people outside the concerned country as well. but why? They seem to need numbers by hook or by crook.
The people who would understand this strategy is us, who are regular users of internet and now its up to us to choose the future we want for us and the small technology companies like Technologies33.
Support Net Neutrality : Send in an Email on advisorfea1@trai.gov.in
Supporting Net Neutrality and Turn Down Free Basics of Facebook.
Save the Internet !
Let us know if you have any feedbacks for us.
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