TRAI upholds net neutrality

IN Media Watch Briefs | 08/02/2016

TRAI ruled today in favour of net neutrality, and prohibited discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content. What are the implications of this for Facebook's Free Basics? Free data to some extent is allowed only as long as it is website agnostic. So in effect it strikes down what Free Basics is offering. The exception to net neutrality that TRAI has spelt out is that it will not apply to intranets or closed electronic communication networks.

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.