Young Chennaiites join campaign to protect net neutrality
Over 100 members of the Free Software Fundation India, Tamil Nadu, staged a protest
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-04-24 06:12 GMT
Chennai: Youngsters from Chennai joined the nationwide campaign urging Trai to protect net neutrality. Over 100 members of the Free Software Fundation India, Tamil Nadu, staged a protest and also took out a walkathon at Besant Nagar beach on Thursday as Trai’s deadline to submit opinions for its consultation paper on net neutrality comes to an end on April 24. Students and IT professionals also participated in the protest. They raised slogans like “Net for people, not for profit” and carried placards, which read, ‘We support net neutrality’ and ‘Biggies vs. Startups’ etc.
Members of the foundation said that about 10 lakh people have voiced their objection to Trai consultation paper through email. Algunambi Welkin, president of FSFTN, who headed the protest highlighted major issues how in the absence of net neutrality it would affect users. He cited the instance of the Delhi rape case and similar incidents, how it reached the masses through social media. In its absence, social issues cannot be addressed. He also pointed out that in the absence of net neutrality, startup companies cannot survive.
“The internet is the primary source of capital for startup companies. Only startups can bring in a better economy in India. Preventing such an ecosystem will result in a drastic drop of the Indian economy,” he said. Arvind G. another member., alleged that telecom companies run on a profit model and don’t accept the free market concept. We should also follow the American model as they have implemented net neutrality, he said.