Gringo Net: Zero Rating in Brazil

The Gringo Net:Zero Rating for

Latinos?

Chris Marsden Sussex

FGV8 June 2015

March 2015: Sao Paolo

UK government/Ofcom still opposed to net neutrality

Five Eyes Alliance: US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ

See Brazil? Not in 5Eyes

Dilma (in FBK hoodie) & Zuck (in a suit)

Dilma against neutrality?

Brazil going mobile

Mobile tiny proportion but

important segment – kids

Is Facebook the Internet? Brazilians think so?

Einstein never said

this…

Sandvine CEO May 2015

• In Latin America, • Facebook and Google:

• Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, • YouTube, Google Play

• control 60%+ of mobile network traffico http://www.lightreading.com/video/ott/why-netflix-traffic-keeps-soaring/d/

d-id/715984

How to be neutral• BBC 2006:• “Neutrality for us is not neutrality at

all”• “Public service websites must argue

for true neutrality”.• Ridiculous to suggest anything else is

a remotely sustainable position:o https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/book/net-

neutrality-towards-a-co-regulatory-solution/ch4-positive-discrimination-and-the-zettaflood

Wikimedia Foundation 2014

“We believe in net neutrality in America”o “We have a complicated relationship to neutrality

• "Partnering with telcos in the near term, • blurs the net neutrality line in those

areas • It fulfils our overall mission, though, • which is providing free knowledge.”

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/11/25/wikipedias-complicated-relationship-with-net-neutrality/

Wikimedia mobile strategy: FBK

2011: Brazil example why zero rating needed

June 2011 ethnographic study:

Sao Paolo + Porto Alegre

Mobiles want exclusivity

Wikipedia Zero 59 nations; 67 operators

Internet.orgFacebook Zero

Zuck: "Some may argue for an extreme definition of net neutrality…”

• that it’s somehow wrong to offer any more services to support the unconnected,

• but a reasonable definition of net neutrality is more inclusive.

• Access equals opportunity. • Net neutrality should not prevent access.“

o Tone Deaf Zuckerberg Declares Opposition To Zero Rated Apps An 'Extremist' Position That Hurts The Poor from the new-AOL,-brought-to-you-by-Mother-Teresa dept,

o Bode, Karl, Tech Dirt May 5th 2015o https://www.techdirt.com/blog/netneutrality/articles/20150504/083417308

85/tone-deaf-zuckerberg-declares-opposition-to-zero-rated-apps-extremist-position-that-hurts-poor.shtml

Claim 1: Internet access can be subsidised

• “Nothing about opposing zero rating prevents access"

• “nobody is stopping Facebook or Internet.org

• funding discounted access • to the real Internet.”• So what is a reasonable position?

Claim 2: Competition & Dominance

• “Zuckerberg's basically cementing his company's gatekeeper authority”

• “over developing nations for generations to come • “under the bright banner of selfless altruism, • “then taking offense when told that • “these countries might just be better off with • “un-apertured, subsidized access to • the real Internet.”

Principled solutions?• Don’t blame Wikimedia, blame mobiles• They want exclusive in-country deals• If Wikipedia + FBK want zero rating:• Claim [1] • time limited – say 3 months• Claim [2] • NEVER exclusive – FRAND terms like

specialized services

Net neutral nations ban Zero rating

• Canada, • Netherlands, • Norway, • Slovenia, Estonia, • Japan, • Finland • Chile:

http://historico.subtel.gob.cl/noticias/138-neutralidad-red/5311-ley-de-neutralidad-y-redes-sociales-gratis

Don’t break the Internet!

• @christmarsden