One of the popular Bollywood Music composer and singer Vishal Dadlani has come up with a new video attempting to make Indians conscious about Facebook’s Free Basics”. He called Facebook’s Free Basics initiative as a scam and explained why none should sign up for it as it violates the concept of net neutrality. He uploaded a video on his Facebook page saying that “Facebook is making fools of us.”
Vishal Dadlani, popularly known to be vocal about issues like corruption and gender imbalance and many other society concerned issues. Now, he speaks up for net neutrality through this video as he endeavors to explain to people how Facebook is deceiving people asking them to sign up for Savetheinternet and voice their support for ‘Free Basics’.
Facebook’s Free Basics, which was previously known as internet.org has now become a burning issue in the country. Recently, Facebook offered basic Internet access across the country with its telecom partner Reliance Communications, under the name of ‘Free Basics’. This campaign claims to offer free access to about 80 apps and websites all over India that includes states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Goa. Currently, India has more than eight lakh users under the Free Basics initiative.
The major goal of Free Basics is to bring free Internet access to the developing world. But, it has faced a backlash from experts all over the country alleging that it is against net neutrality. In the video, the Singer Vishal Dadlani mentions internet.org as Savetheinternet.org by mistake, something he has corrected in the comments. He illustrates the futility of Free Basics’s request regarding a free and fair internet. Through this 1 minute, 40 seconds video, he urges citizens not to become the “victims of this scam”.
Today, the well-known Comedy group AIB had also revealed a video explaining why it isn’t a good idea. Alongside, popular YouTube channel, EIC (East India Comedy) has come front with support to ‘Save the internet’ campaign. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, however again defended the program, asserting that Free Basics and Facebook are 100 percent supportive of net neutrality.