TRAI Slams Free Basics
It seems like Facebook has been doing it all wrong and has enraged the Telecom Regulatory Authority in India more. The public has seen the social network and TRAI battling it all out since last year because of the former's Free Basics initiative. Free Basics is a program which aim is to provide consumers with free Internet through their mobile phones in order to help them get connected and get information easily.
But TRAI has been questioning the motives behind the initiative, which eventually led it to temporarily suspending the program until a proper hearing is done. In the meantime, while suspended, the regulatory board spent its time investigating on whether or not it has a rule particularly on net neutrality.
The suspension of Free Basics led to an enormous time spent by the social media on aggressive campaigning to garner support for the said initiative. The campaign has involved asking for comments to be sent to TRAI to stop the ban against the said Internet initiative. These responses that were sent to TRAI via using a template and then clicking a sent button online or leaving a missed call is now being attacked by the board of regulators.
This Monday, a letter by the Indian regulatory board has accused Facebook of having a crudely majoritarian and orchestrated opinion poll in its efforts called "Save Free Basics." In the letter that was sent to the social network's public policy director for India, Ankhi Das, the regulatory board said that the company has deep misgivings on how they have solicited support from their consumers.
The letter went on to say that the way the social media giant urged its users has the unsavoury flavour of diminishing the meaningful consultative exercise that is designed to gather informed decisions in a transparent manner into a crude and orchestrated opinion poll instead. The letter also stated that the nature of the campaign, if accepted, will have dangerous ramifications to India's policymaking.
When reached for a statement, the social network's spokesperson said that the company has attempted to cooperate with the Indian regulatory board's request for specific responses. In fact, the draft email that the social media has used included the language from four specific questions that TRAI required it to ask its users, so it could be used in the consultation paper.
As of now, the saga seems to be continuing on, and a resolution is far from being reached. Stay tuned as it seems more than likely that another update will be reaching the public soon. Whether the update will be about the hearing or the gathering of support or whatever is next, the public is sure to be making a buzz about it soon.