Do a jihad for independent internet, oppose Facebook Basics: Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of digital wallet-turned-e-commerce firm Paytm, on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Facebook’s campaign for its Free Basicsinternet access programme, calling for a ’ jihad ’ to save a free internet without any corporate agendas. Sharma said India’s digital independence is threatened by the world’s largest social network, tweeting, somewhat dramatically, “Oh my fellow Indians, either choose this and do a jihaad for independent internet later or pick net neutrality today.” Facebook on Tuesday launched a missed call campaign in Indian newspapers asking users across India to support its Free Basics campaign – formerly known as the internet.org project – that allows subscribers not not to pay for data charges to telecom service providers. “I am surprised that we in this time and age might get our digital independence threatened. All for #NetNeutrality,” Sharma said on Twitter, adding “Open and out. Internet won’t be equal ...