Article by: Hima Bindu
Volunteers involved: All EERF volunteers
Free basics has been in the headlines for quite a while in the recent days. It was what people call “HOT TOPIC” a few days ago. Facebook, the leading social network had introduced it. The main aim of it was “free internet” to the people who support it and to provide many people with “free” access to the internet.
Why is free basics not supported by many people across the world??? There is only the main reason for it. The reason is that freebasics is not free at all. Mark zuckerberg did not bring out many things related to free basics. The first thing that he did not mention is that free basics is against net neutrality.
Why did people oppose freebasics??
Free software movement of India studied about free basics and made it clear that it was against net neutrality, and being associated with Swecha, started campaigning about it. It was basically INTERNET.ORG under a different name. The first time internet.org came to India, it was opposed by many Indians. They went back and came forth with a new name, free basics.
Free basics almost prevailed!!
Many Indians who did not have proper knowledge about free basics actually sent mails saying that they support it. But then all the mails that TRAI received were not genuine. Half of the mails received were not from the people who support it. In other words, they were fake. They were by facebook itself. Even TRAI did not expect such a response.
What facebook didn’t tell us??
1. Free basics is the worst of our options to have free internet access. There are many other successful models to implement it.
2. Free Basics makes money from telecom operators. Telecom operators make money from users who pay. Encouraging people to use free basics will eventually result in users moving to paid services.
3. Free Basics is about keeping facebook and its partners free, while everything remains paid. It is a violation of net neutrality.
4. Free Basics was not the reason 100 million users were added to accessing internet.
5. Free Basics is not open source. They reserve the right to reject applicants, who are forced to comply with facebook’s terms.
6. The only source of information on facebook’s free basics is facebook and it misleads people. Facebook was critisied in Brazil for misleading advertising.
7. Facebook will have to the user data of all its partners. Facebook gives this data to the NSA and this is a security issue in India.
8. People prefer to open web for a shorter duration than limited sites for a longer duration.
9. Facebook may claim 3.2 million in support of free basics, but how many of them are legitimate???
Protest !!!
However, FSMI, SWECHA along with EERF and many other glugs of different colleges started protesting against it. They sent mails through FSMI to TRAI that they want free basics to go back. EERF members actively participated in the campaign SAY NO TO FREE BASICS. All the members personally warned their friends and relatives asking them not to support free basics and created awareness about it among many in their circles. After the campaign started from SWECHA, they became even more active. The first day, EERF accompanied Swecha volunteers and other glug members in making posters against free basics. After all that bliss and colour, it was time for a strong protest!!! The only way people pay attention in India is when something comes out on the road. So all the volunteers put out the posters and started a rally. They set up a tent on the roadside near gachibowli and protested day and night.
They also brought awareness about the alternative of free basics, THE FREEDOM BOX. Bhuvan anna took the responsibility of demonstrating the SWECHA BOX. Sravani akka and sravanthi akka made a parody of “badram be careful brother” saying no to free basics. Pratap Reddy sir, Director R&D-JNTU, also raised his voice along with the others. This protest grew stronger through the first three days of the rally. The last day EERF mobilized more than 150 students to Swecha office through St.martin’s college buses. After reaching the venue, there was a short meeting about what the rally was about and then it was time for the real deal. EERF played a key role in mobilizing people.
The result !!!
After the strong protest, many sent mails to TRAI saying no to free basics. And the good news is that TRAI said no to free basics and made the subtle move to protect net neutrality.
o see what our protest has succeeded, click the link below !
Social Media Activists in India and a horde of internet users stood up and fought against Facebook's "free" scheme i.e. #FreeBasics and came out on top, defeating this threat to #NetNeutrality. #Savetheinternet (www.savetheinternet.in) has won!
