Is "Free Basics" Really "Free?"

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"There is no free lunch!"- and FB is offering it--sometimes calling internet.org and sometimes "Free Basics". This so called "Free Basics" is a direct threat to the concept of "Net Neutrality". Here is why:

1. It is a threat to entrepreneurs: When the services, say for example, like WhatsApp, are offered free under this scheme. This will initially please the users for being free, but in long run, this will create a monopoly of WhatsApp as users will not use any competing messenger because they will have to pay data bill to use any other messenger. Thus, any young entrepreneur, who wants to launch a competing messenger will find it very difficult to launch it as no surfer will be ready to try this product for which they will have to pay the data bill.

2. It is a threat to privacy: When one will access the any service under "Free Basics", one will have to visit access the server / website of that service through the proxy set by FB- literally meaning that FB can read and access private information of users.

3. It does not address the core issue of Digital Divide: On the face value, FB claims that "Free Basics" will help the people of remote areas of India to access the Internet for the first time for free-thus creating a level playing feel between those "with" and "without" Internet connectivity. This argument is wrong. Why should we offer a limited set of services to those people without Internet access? Why not let them decide which services do they want to use? The better idea would be to provide them with free Wi-Fi / 4G connectivity rather than something like "Free Basics" 

4. Very few things are anyway "Neutral"-let us not loose "Neutral Internet"- "Free Basics" is a direct threat to the whole idea of "Net Neutrality". Net Neutrality has ensured that people can make free and informed choices. It makes sure that people are truly empowered. It effectively breaks the monopolies of older business models and ecosystems. But, the plans (like Airtel Zero), when offered to the customers, it means that the Internet does not remain to be neutral. It means that if you visit certain websites (say facebook.com), then bill of data that you have to bear to access it will be paid by Facebook. That means certain Internet traffic is charged less and certain Internet traffic is charged more-it is an injustice to the customer and the entrepreneur who wants to create a competing website of fb and who cannot pay Airtel the bill of customer who visits his website instead that of fb. 

That's all!

Thanks and Regards,
Pathik B. Variya

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