Facebook has long had a big plan up its sleeve. Internet.org, as it was known as in the beginning, sounded like a solution to the world's problem of poor or no internet access. Specially for far-flung places such as Africa's and India's small towns and rural areas.
By and by, the programme was renamed Free Basics, the name being more reflective of the positioning of the plan -- that those who can't afford internet access will get at least basic access through Free Basics.
Free Basics is dependent on a partnership between Facebook and the carriers: for now that's Reliance's RCom and a pilot with Airtel. Through RCom, a person can get free access to the internet. Except that this internet is defined and controlled by Facebook. Where the user can go online, is up to Facebook which partners with sites of its choosing. With Airtel, for example, if one were to log in to Facebook, that would be free. But leaving Facebook and whatever sites it prescribes will be "leaving the free zone".
Essentially, this plan leaves Facebook and the carriers free to tweak and charge and channel as they please. When a user clicks on a video, for example, he leaves the free zone and may opt to pay up for data -- advantage carrier. When a user chooses to stay on Facebook and use its increasing sweep of services and content -- advantage Facebook.
The Free Basics plan -- and zero rating plans such as the one almost put into action by Airtel earlier -- are positioned as purely philanthropic. On a recent visit to India, speaking to an audience of IIT students, Mark Zuckerberg made a hard push for Free Basics, saying that those who had it all seemed unwilling to let the have-nots get access to the internet and improve their lives. Both Facebook and the carriers know well that their next swarm of users will come from smaller towns and remote areas; first-time users who won't know the difference between a truly free interent where you can get to any site at all, and Facebook's walled garden internet, where you go where Facebook says. Later, Zuckerberg said that any application or developer who met the Free Basics requirements could be on the platform. Facebook is still the company to decide who that will be.
Free Basics caused an outcry by experts who understood well where it was going. Starting a campaign, savetheinternet.in, they were able to get wide public support to put pressure on Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to put a stop to Free Basics and similar programmes. These were seen as violating net neutrality -- the internet being the same for everyone. Certainly, those who have not been able to afford it, need access, but not through the dictat of any company or authority.
Facebook however is hell bent on pushing through Free Basics. Recently, a post appeared on Facebook to urge users to save Free Basics and allow the have-nots to get access and stop the digital divide. It was put up to be easy to share and spread, specially by those who didn't fully understand the implications -- a bit of social engineering there.
The public backlash against plans such as Free Basics has been well understood by political leaders, specially telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who has frequently said that the government does not want to do anything that goes against the spirit of net neutrality. The whole issue was to be studied in detail by a parliamentary committee and recommendations given.
Meanwhile, the Trai has asked RCom to stop Facebook's Free Basics service and has reported compliance with this order.
BW Reporters
Mala Bhargava has been writing on technology well before the advent of internet in Indians and before CDs made their way into computers. Mala writes on technology, social media, startups and fitness. A trained psychologist, she claims that her understanding of psychology helps her understand the human side of technology.
