While the government debates the future of Net Neutrality, Flipkart has made news by first joining and then backing out of Airtel Zero, a new platform widely criticized for violating the principles of Net Neutrality.
We at Flipkart have always strongly believed in the concept of #NetNeutrality, for we exist because of the Internet. http://t.co/XTxK9l6cdU
Psst! If that sentence up top made absolutely no sense to you, here's an explainer about what Net Neutrality is and why India is freaking out about it right now.
Today, travel site Cleartrip took a similar stand by backing out of Internet.org, an initiative by Facebook which has also faced fire for being anti-Net Neutrality.
Time to draw a line in the sand, Cleartrip is pulling out of http://t.co/S7VKhY4RC7 & standing up for #NetNeutrality http://t.co/JtpCtbK0AT
And what ensued was 100% cute.
MakeMyTrip got in there, too. (And Flipkart invited BookMyShow.)
Simultaneously, the Times Group has committed to withdrawing from Internet.org under the condition that India Today, NDTV, IBNLive, NewsHunt, and BBC do as well.
.@Timesinternet Times Group commits to exit http://t.co/iwA30ZTvpK appeals fellow publishers to follow http://t.co/MGSvTh99h6 #Saveinternet
A Times Group spokesperson reportedly said:
"We support net neutrality because it creates a fair, level playing field for all companies - big and small - to produce the best service and offer it to consumers. We will lead the drive towards a neutral internet, but we need our fellow publishers and content providers to do so as well, so that the playing field continues to be level."
In the last week, several other brands have also taken a stand for Net Neutrality in India.
@redditindia Amazon has always supported #NetNeutrality.
NDTV supports #netneutrality. Here's what the debate is about http://t.co/AZl53ORXj0
http://t.co/6oyPfy6GWo comes out in support of #NetNeutrality! Good on you guys! http://t.co/i32zkJtR72
Only you can control what you do online. Keep the internet free. Support #NetNeutrality.
Net Neutrality also has Bollywood's blessing, and the support of online creators.
Read more about India's Net Neutrality debate here on BuzzFeed:
• If You Have No Idea How The Indian Internet May Change And Why Everyone's Flipping A Shit, Read This
• 16 Bollywood Stars Who Are Fighting To Save Net Neutrality In India
• Everyone Needs To Read This Indian Politician's Letter Supporting Net Neutrality
• Pissed Off Users Have Been Downvoting Flipkart And Airtel's Apps For Being Anti-Net Neutrality
• In Their First Video Since The Roast, All India Bakchod Asks You To Help #SaveTheInternet
• Bangalore Has Just Voiced Its Opinion On Net Neutrality In India, And It's Hilarious
• 8 Major Brands' Slogans Reimagined For A World Without Net Neutrality