Which of the following neighbouring countries of India has banned free internet for social media in July, 2020 ?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, Bangladesh. In July 2020 Bangladesh's telecom regulator, the BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission), directed mobile operators and ISPs to stop offering 'free internet' for social media — i.e. it prohibited the zero-rating of social-media platforms. The stated reasons were to end 'unhealthy' market competition and curb misuse; the move ended Facebook's 'Free Basics' service in Bangladesh, where operators had been giving free/partly-free access to social media.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Nepal did not impose such a ban on free social-media internet in July 2020; it is not the answer.  (b) Bhutan took no comparable measure banning free internet for social media in July 2020.  (c) Myanmar had internet restrictions in this period (notably mobile-data shutdowns in conflict areas such as Rakhine and Chin states), but that is a different issue from banning free/zero-rated social-media packages — the July 2020 measure in question was Bangladesh's.

Concept: 'Zero-rating' or 'free basics' lets a telecom operator provide certain apps or websites (often social media) without charging for the data used. Critics argue it distorts competition and violates net neutrality by privileging some services; Bangladesh's regulator used this reasoning when it barred operators from offering free social-media access in July 2020.

State PCS 2020 Q35 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2020 Q35 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer