Internet.org

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In an open letter to Zuckerberg, the savetheinternet team said it\'s \"a matter of distress\" that Facebook through its internet.org platform and lobbying on regulatory consultations, has sought to undermine net neutrality in India.

Even as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg expressed commitment to net neutrality, the volunteers of savetheinternet.in have raised questions over the internet.org platform.

In an open letter to Zuckerberg, the savetheinternet team said it's "a matter of distress" that Facebook through its internet.org platform and lobbying on regulatory consultations, has sought to undermine net neutrality in India.

During his townhall address at IIT-Delhi, Zuckerberg said his company is committed to net neutrality, but supported zero-rating plans which have been criticised by many as violative of the principles of a free Internet, writes Firstpost.

Mark Zuckerberg launched Internet.org in 2013 to bring Internet access to the developing world. Internet.org is a partnership between social networking services company Facebook and six companies, which plans to bring affordable access to selected Internet services to less developed countries by increasing efficiency, and facilitating the development.

Net neutrality means that all Internet users be treated equally, without discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication. Once you pay for an internet plan, you should be allowed to access any website you want, without discrimination or restriction.

Internet.org has launched as a free-to-use mobile app as the Free Basics app in a number of developing countries, enabling users to access free basic apps such as Facebook, AccuWeather, and Google Search. The rebranding includes the launch of over 60 new services.

Supporters of net neutrality argue that Internet.org is a Facebook proxy targeting India’s poor, i.e., giving them restricted access to Facebook and similar websites, including the websites that are under the internet.org campaign, for free. For other websites not under Internet.org one has to to pay much more.

Youthkiawaaz says, “We will not be able to get access to all websites available on the Internet with the data plan we have. We will be paying to use WhatsApp, Hike, and such messenger apps separately. We have to pay to use Ola or Uber or any other app, including games. Even access to the IRCTC app will be subjected to payment.”

No matter which telecom operator is providing you internet services, you should be able to access all date on the internet at the same speed. If there was no Net Neutrality, companies such as Flipkart, Snapdeal, and other Indian ventures wouldn’t have managed to get where they are (since Amazon was already in the market).

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