Free basics: seeing the bigger picture

FREE BASICS: seeing the bigger picture 

The very recent initiative by Facebook : Free Basics that claims to provide free internet access to all has brought about a lot of outrage in the country currently condemning the move. Although there are many who are supporting the move. The reason? Lets first try to see their point of view.

Facebook is calling on Indian users to send an email to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), asking the government agency to support its Free Basics Program. The form titled "Act now to save Free Basics in India" includes a message that reads:

“Free Basics gives people access to vital services, such as communication, healthcare, education, job listings and farming information—all without data charges. It helps those who can’t afford to pay for data, or who need a little help with getting started online. And it’s open to all people, developers and mobile networks.

However, Free Basics is in danger in India. A small, vocal group of critics are lobbying to have Free Basics banned on the basis of net neutrality. Instead of giving people access to some basic Internet services for free, they demand that people pay equally to access all Internet services, even if that means 1 billion people can’t afford to access any services.

“The TRAI is holding a public debate that will affect whether free basic Internet services can be offered in India. Your voice is important for the 1 billion Indian people who are not yet connected and don’t have a voice on the Internet. Unless you take action now, India could lose access to free basic Internet services, delaying progress toward digital equality for all Indians. Tell the TRAI that you support Free Basics and digital equality in India.”

How noble and altruistic this message seems to be. Readers are forced into believing they are doing something really noble for their fellow citizens. How can those who are too poor to access internet sign this petition? So our kind facebook users take it into their hand to become their voice and fight for their rights by simply signing this petition. After all no one must object to the move that aims to bring about digital equality in India.

But it's very difficult to see through anyone's real intentions. The reason people are protesting against this move is because it is threatening "NET NEUTRALITY"

NET NEUTRALITY : It is the principle that Internet Service Providers should treat all data on internet as the same. That means they should not charge different sites differently nor should they slow down the speed of one website knowingly and increasing the speed of the website that probably paid them well. Under such circumstances we are forced to use the website with good speed rather than the slower one. In a comedian's words No internet is better than slow internet.

In short compromising with net neutrality is promoting corruption in the field of internet as well.

EVEN THOUGH MARK ZUCKERBURG CLAIMS THAT FREE BASIC DOES NOT THREATEN NET NEUTRALITY, WHY ARE PEOPLE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT IT?

The reason is because it is just a claim in words by Mr. ZUCKERBURG and no aspect of free basics back up this claim. Free basics does not allow access to all the websites and services instead only those websites that have been approved by facebook can be accessed using free basics. Facebook reserves all the rights to reject applicants of various websites from being put up on the free basics. And on what basis do they reject them? It has not been made public to us. You never know if the conditions imply monetary terms only. Thus it comes with a big advantage for Internet giants who can manage to pay them off well (bribe in simple terms) and highly de-motivating and discouraging for young starters with no money investment in the beginning. This is compromising with net neutrality.

Also it has been claimed that there are no ads on free basics but no such claims have been made that there will be no ads in the future. Facebook says it is not aiming to profit with free basics and not using our data traffic on free basics to meet his own ends. See who is claiming that , the website whose revenues are entirely based on our usage of data.

 Now its left to our reasoning wether such claims are worth being trusted for their moral values.

FREE BASICS DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF CONNECTIVITY: Microsoft India Chairman

One need to be Reliance Communications customer within cellular coverage to benefit from the project in India. Free basics is aimed towards poor people. And are you telling me that he first needs to buy this specific gadget to get free access to Internet (note internet that too with only specific websites). If one has enough spare money to buy this mobile phone he must be having enough money to buy himself data too. Ok we even take this argument into consideration that free basics is offering free net for lifetime with one time investment on phone. But who guarantees the absolutely hazel free use of these phones. They come with their own maintenance charge including the electricity needed to charge them that drains with faster pace while using Internet.

MR. ZUCKERBURG I SALUTE YOUR NOBLE MOTIVES BEHIND FREE BASICS although i do not support the method you have adopted for achieving the same.

We have yet not forgotten how Britishers once made tall claims of shaping our country with their good governance and administrative skills and we became the prey to tall claims and slowly became slaves to them. Let the history not repeat itself with us falling prey yet to another claim while slowly free basics complete devours the net neutrality concept leaving us with no option but to pay for individual websites just the way we pay for different channels on televisions. There needs to be many times more transparency in the terms and policies of free basics, actually the entire concept needs to undergo a drastic change to make the platform more democratic with us having a say and with us voting for its terms and policies. And if it is claimed that free basics is towards achieving digital equality and for betterment of mankind then making the policies more approachable by en masses should not be much of a problem.

Yes Digital Equality is a noble concept and steps should be taken to achieve it. I suggest we help our Government for framing adequate policies to achieve the same because we know better how and on what terms this must be brought. Monopoly towards achieving this goal is a STRICT NO.

We have time till 30th December to voice our opinion against it. Just go to the website savetheinternet.in and send an email voicing your opinion against this Facebook movement.

Krish's letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I know you must be keeping pretty busy these days with wrapping of gifts and ensuring each one gets delivered at the right address. If u need my help just drop a message I will be glad to help.

This is the first letter from Krish to you and the very first gift that Krish demands must be the one that remains memorable and continues with us throughout our life. Krish doesn't want anything of monetary value for such things don't last much. They remain under the constant threat of getting destroyed or the threat of burglary. The first gift has to be an eternal thing. And we have already thought of it.

This year Santa gift us the bliss of seeing our society free and independent. What?? Did you say we are already independent? Sorry to disappoint you Santa but Krish doesn't agree. We are still the slaves of age old customs, beliefs and the everlasting discrimination of religion. We are slaves to the monsters that spread evil in our society. Please pack these monsters in your bag and dump them at a safe place where there is no point of return.

Why does this society casts aside its own because of religion. Why does it have to be the hindu society or muslim society when " THE SOCIETY" sounds more appealing and more welcoming. Why do we have to follow the customs blindly without reasoning. In a hindu marriage we have to compulsorily take the same seven oath to tie the knot. Why cant we use our reasoning and device such oaths that have a better relevance in today's times. Lets just take the first oath where bride takes all the responsibilities of household chores ; however in 21st century where both the partners are equally responsible for contributing towards the budget of the house ,the household works must also be their combined responsibility. Why even in these educated times some religious practices still encourage animal sacrifice when they have been proved to be nothing more than absurdity and highly inhuman.

Lets just take an instance where I am sitting in a large feast with lots of items kept on dinning table. But I have only one plate, one stomach and my particular taste. I will pick up the best for me and leave out the rest. Customs, traditions, beliefs are playing the role of food items offered in the feast. Let our moral values play the role of stomach in this instance and guide us in choosing the ones that best fit our logic and level of reasoning. The divine power designed all human beings similarly with exactly similar anatomy and similar physiology. And the moral values that bind the humanity are consequently the same. Lets not create cumpulsory discriminations amongst us and lets give each human being complete freedom in choosing his beliefs and his customs according to which he wishes to keep his morals protected and those that fit his level of reasoning.

Look around Santa. We are yet not independent. We are yet not free. We are still shackled by chains of self destruction. This year gift our society independence.

Disclaimer: the views expressed are not meant to offend any religious faith or belief nor the intentions are to condemn any religious practice. They have purely been expressed under the right to freedom of expression.