Your internet is under threat

Save The Internet and Net Neutrality are terms that you must have come across in the recent past. There have been many articles, discussions and reactions over it all over the media and the internet. If you have let it pass as just another ‘tech’ update, wait on. Net Neutrality is here to change the very nature of internet. Here’s all that you need to know about the hottest debate right now.

What is net neutrality?
Wikipedia describes net neutrality as ‘the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication.’

Why is it important?
According to the website theopeninter.net, net neutrality helps prevent unfair pricing practices, promotes innovation, entrepreneurship, ideas and protects freedom of speech. Ritesh Agarwal CEO, OYO Rooms, a network of branded budget hotels says, "Net neutrality is absolutely essential for a free and competitive market especially now since there is a start- up boom in the country particularly in the online sector. Most importantly Internet was created to break boundaries and as concerned industry players, we should maintain that. We support net neutrality and will do all needed to build this further."

Why is there debate now?
In December 2014, mobile telephone service provider Airtel, decided to charge additional rates for making voice calls from its network using apps like WhatsApp, Skype and others. 

Presently, is there net neutrality in India?
India has no laws governing net neutrality. In the past, there have been a few violations by some service providers.

Which are the companies that support net neutrality?
Yahoo!, eBay, Amazon, Microsoft, Twitter, Tumblr, Etsy, Greenpeace, and many other companies and organisations worldwide support net neutrality. Flipkart was earlier not in favour of net neutrality but after receiving flak for its support to Airtel’s plan, it changed its stand.

What can you do to help net neutrality?
Netneutrality.in points out that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper with 20 questions spread across 118 pages and wants you to send them an e-mail with your opinion by April 24, 2015. All you need to do is log on to Savetheinternet.in, a page created as a collection of the best arguments that may be made in favour of net neutrality, in the framework of the TRAI consultation paper. Click on the Respond to TRAI now button and follow the steps. The purpose of this is to 'assist supporters of strong net neutrality in articulating their own views on the matter in a legally precise manner.'

To help you know more and understand the net neutrality issue better, the comedy collective ‘All India Bakchod’ has released a video to support the Save the Internet movement.