Facebook Alleges TRAI Unsubscribed to its Mail on Net Neutrality

Facebook alleges that someone at the TRAI blocked its emails that help users sharing thoughts on net neutrality.

The social media giant accuses TRAI of foul play (Photo: Reuters)

Facebook has alleged that someone at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) blocked email from its websites which people used for sharing their comments on differential pricing issue, a key issue of net neutrality.

Facebook has launched a public campaign to defend its free Internet platform Free Basics in response to consultation paper floated by the TRAI on regulatory framework for differential pricing for data services.

The social media feels that the regulator may ban its Free Basics platform, which allows access to some websites and applications, and hence launched a massive campaign to gather support in its favour.

Facebook in a letter to the regulator, has said:

<p>Despite clear and timely efforts by millions of Indians to send their comments, someone with access to designated TRAI email account appears to have blocked receipt of all emails from Facebook to that TRAI account. </p>

It said that during its query its found that “on December 17 at 5.51.53 GMT, an individual with access to the TRAI email account designated to accept comments took action that blocked Facebook from delivering any additional email to that address.”

Facebook said that the action by person prevented Facebook system from sending further responsive email to TRAI.

The last date for public comments on Trai paper was earlier December 30 which was later extended to January 7.

As per TRAI data, it has received around 24 lakh comments till January 7.

Meanwhile, the telecom regulator has said that it will conduct an open house discussion on differential pricing for data services, a key aspect of net neutrality, on January 21.

In a notification, TRAI said “interested stakeholders are invited to participate” in open house discussion on its consultation paper on ‘Differential Prices for Data Services’.

Telecom operators have favoured differential pricing for data services while net neutrality activists continue to oppose any differential pricing regime, saying it would amount to curbs on freedom of choice to access Internet.