Facebook tricking users into supporting Free Basics?

Nothing attracts eyeballs in the world of marketing like the word ‘free’ and in many ways it explains why Facebook would rechristen internet.org as ‘Free basics’ in a bid to push through its plans for possible colonisation of the Internet.

Facebook is now facing flak from social media users after the social media network asked its 125 million Indian users to send an email to TRAI in support of ‘Free Basics’. When Facebook initially launched internet.org and ran commercials for the same on Indian television, social activists and internet users came down heavily on the tech giant and also on Airtel, for a similar plan that aimed to provide free limited internet access. Users responded then by sending over a million mails to TRAI, to stop the telecom authority from allowing companies from violating Net Neutrality.

Users are also complaining that the notification automatically signed you up in support of Free Basics when one scrolled down as suggested by the page. It also does not have the undo option meaning users could be trapped into supporting an initiative.

Singer Suchitra complained about the same on Twitter, “This #FreeBasics on FB is a scam, guys. Don’t even scroll down — they’ll say you signed and then you can’t do anything about it. Sigh :(“

Users are miffed that Facebook is trying to implement its plan by pushing the agenda into their notifications and urging them to send emails in support of Free Basics. Facebook is trying to capitalise on its large database by only providing partial information to the public and thus encouraging unwitting users to champion its cause.

“Free Basics is in danger in India. A small, vocal group of critics are lobbying to have Free Basics banned on the basis of net neutrality. Instead of giving people access to some basic Internet services for free, they demand that people pay equally to access all Internet services, even if that means 1 billion people can’t afford to access any services,” the Facebook notification reads.

Internet.org came under heavy scrutiny as it violated Net Neutrality. Facebook offered free Internet to new users but made available only websites that partnered with them. The service was also available only through a single telecom operator. In short, new users would only have limited access to the Internet and access only to sites approved by Facebook meaning a colonisation of sorts. Information, trade etc would all be done through Facebook approved sites. For example, Google, Facebook’s rival, was not part of the sites that were offered through Facebook’s internet.org initiative in majority of the countries despite being the most widely used search engine for information.

Facebook’s campaign to get Free Basics over the line comes on the heels of TRAI issuing a consulation paper on differential pricing for data services, and inviting comments on whether telecom operators should be allowed to have differential pricing for different websites, apps and platforms, until Dec. 31
 

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