Facebook's Internet.org, that is accessible free on certain ISPs violates net neutrality, say critics. And timed with Modi's visit to the US, Facebook has pushed up advertising efforts for Internet.org.
As Prime Minister Modi's upcoming US visit gathers prominence for his scheduled meetings with Silicon Valley CEOs, what has raised concerns is the Indian government's stance on the Net Neutrality debate.
As he heads to Silicon Valley right after he addresses the UN General Assembly, PM Modi will meet, amongst others, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Tesla's Elon Musk. It is believed that Modi will look up to more investments in Indian start-ups, and may even have an outpost to help fuel Indian businesses.
But what is of more prominence is what will that spell for Indian start-ups. A free internet is at the heart of the debate, and the practice of zero-rating which allows a particular service free access on a particular ISP, violating a free and accessible internet for small startups.
Facebook's Internet.org, that is accessible free on certain ISPs violates net neutrality, say critics. And timed with Modi's visit to the US, Facebook has pushed up advertising efforts for Internet.org.
"In Indonesia, many believe that Internet.org is the internet, a study by LirneAsia found. Internet.org violates the principle of a free internet and the government should not support it," says Nikhil Pahwa of Medianama. "The PM's visit to Silicon Valley is a positive development, because Indian start-ups need the funding from foreign investors. But, the government must be careful not to hand over the internet ecosystem to a few telecom operators."
Google, which has been a vocal supporter of net neutrality in the US, alleged tried to persuade the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), an umbrella body of internet companies in India, to not take an anti zero-rating stand with TRAI's net neutrality consultations, as per emails between a Google India official and IAMAI accessed by Pahwa. Google India's anti-competition practices are now being investigated by the Competition Council of India (CCI), and a report has recently been submitted.
Early this year, about 457 startup wrote to Modi asking him to help uphold net neutrality principles in India. "The dominance of powerful ISPs and internet companies will work against Indian startups and the internet market in general. The internet industry is yet to boom in India, and if we hand over the internet to giants, there will be no innovation," said Pahwa.
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