It looks like Flipkart does not mind creating notorious ripples as long as it bags some free publicity. The country’s most popular online shopping store has landed itself in controversy yet another time. Following the “big billion sale day” fiasco, this time it is the firm’s association with Airtel’s Zero Data Program that has invited bad, bad criticism from the public.
Airtel’s Zero Program allows partnering with app owners to keep access to their app completely data usage-free. The fund-flushed app owners in turn pay Airtel for making their app “free” to the users. Flipkart was one of the top tier firms to come out in support of this program.
How do Flipkart and Airtel violate net neutrality?
Net neutrality refers to equalised access to all web content and applications without approving or blocking any particular product or website.
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Flipkart’s self-sabotaging move to join hands with Airtel earned the wrath of Net Neutrality supporters across the country. The social media is filled with contempt for Flipkart’s CEO Sachin Bansal and the Flipkart app for having taken the selfish stride at the cost of network freedom.
Sachin Bansal doggedly defended his stand by “tweeting and retweeting ” his inclination towards nurturing creative business ideas, supporting net neutrality and how he believes that zero rated apps will soon kick the bucket. However no amount of reassurance to endorse innovation or rhetoric updates in favour of net neutrality convinced the public.
Net neutrality supports were merciless in staging their anger. Numerous posts from loyal customers indicating the permanent boycotting of the app were showcased. Journalists and authors took no time in lashing out their contempt for Flipkart’s unfair gimmick.
Airtel, in an attempt to justify the zero- data program guaranteed no interference in the form of slow lanes of access or revised bombshell prices in the future. However the public could never believe these promises as they only seemed like the next obvious step in disrupting the overall start-up ecosystem in India.
There is no such thing called a free lunch…
Flipkart’s pathetic decision to destroy competition from start-ups must be nipped. People must understand that though the concept of “free internet” seems alluring, succumbing to such nefarious moves by the business sharks will ultimately swallow any chance for innovation and fresh talent in India Internet was created to be used freely and no ISP has the right to control the content we choose to access. In short, surrendering to such unethical discrimination on the Internet is like having a gastronomical treat in exile.
