The ‘champion’ of net neutrality, COAI, claims that 4 million people from India support its ‘Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas’ campaign which essentially tricks people into claiming they approve of platforms like Airtel Zero and Internet.org, because it thinks you’re stupid. What’s more, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India whose members include Aircel, Reliance, Vodafone, Airtel and so on, reveals it will let any ‘appropriate agency’ verify its mobile number database of 40 lakh supporters.
Now let’s take a look at what the COAI’s ‘Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas’ propaganda is all about. It asks you to give a missed call to 1800 270 6899. Upon doing so, you get a message thanking you for supporting #SabkaInternet for a Digital Bharat. Then it says your missed call indicates that you feel you have the right to choose what you want to access on the Internet, and wish for affordable data. So far, so good, one would think.
But when you call the aforementioned number in support of ‘Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas’, it means you also want the same regulatory framework for the same services and the choice to access solutions which make the Internet affordable. The COAI doesn’t give you the chance to opt out of the last two points that clearly imply your support Airtel Zero and even wants the government to let telecom companies charge more for services like WhatsApp or Skype.
Also see: Indian telcos set to punish customers for net neutrality, to hike data tariffs by sixfold
In case you are about to dial 1800 270 6899 to see if what we said it true, be warned that the COAI will count you as a supporter of its special version of net neutrality. So you’ll have to give a missed call to 02261227979 to opt out of it afterwards. Of course, seeing how slyly the telecom body has masked its anti-net neutrality stance with its ‘Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas’ campaign, we can only wonder whether the second number actually does what it claims to do.
The COAI launched its ‘successful’ campaign through SMS and voice calls. It is being promoted in 12 local languages across India to ensure people ‘understand’ what they’re pledging their support to. But it’s very easy to confuse folks even if someone reaches out to them in a language they know if the subject matter is purposely disguised as a noble cause. It’ll be a very sad day for India if and when the government decides to rule against net neutrality.