After a massive backlash against its plans to join Airtel Zero, India's largest e-commerce major Flipkart today pulled out of the service, buckling to popular sentiment. "We at Flipkart have always strongly believed in the concept of net neutrality, for we exist because of the Internet," declared CEO Sachin Bansal in a statement released today.
Airtel Zero had become the flashpoint in the net neutrality debate, with activists slamming the company for violating its norms. Last week, Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal entered the fray when he took to Twitter to express his views on signing up with Airtel Zeo. “Zero rated apps for limited time doesn’t go against #NetNeutrality. Costs/competition are very high. Can’t be sustained for long. 0 (Zero)rating only reduces data costs for users. Fears of a telecom big brother emerging are unfounded. Choice wins. Always,” Bansal had said. And today, after a social outrage against the company, which cannot afford to lose its core online customers ( several had threatened to blacklist Flipkart and delete the app), he has done a complete u-turn and decided to support the cause of net neutrality.
The reaction was fast and furious, with netizens downvoting the Flipkart app on the IOS and Android stores and venting their ire on social media. Some even reminded CEO Sachin Bansal about his startup days and how difficult it could have been to compete on a platform like Airtel Zero.
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