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Joint statement said the zero-rating of social media usage ‘is a direct attack on net neutrality.’
The Swedish media came out in force to protest against Telia’s recent announcement that it would offer unlimited free access to various social networks and apps including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter.
In a joint statement published on the Sverige Radio web site representatives of 27 Swedish newspapers, TV and radio stations said the zero-rating of social media usage “is a direct attack on net neutrality, and it is hardly a coincidence that it’s happening two weeks after the new EU net neutrality rules go into effect with the intent of securing an open Internet with equal treatment for everyone.”
The term “zero rating” refers to the practice that has been adopted by many operators globally of allowing certain web-based services to be accessed without incurring data costs or using up inclusive data allowances.
Facebook has already come under fire over the same issue: the social network’s Free Basics service has now been banned in India after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) outlawed subsidised data tariffs that offer low-cost or free access to a select number of online services.
Telia said in April that it would allow its customers to surf freely on the most popular social media sites and apps, meaning that data buckets and plans would not be affected when using these services. The company – which recently changed its name from TeliaSonera – added that the single condition was to “be nice”, in an effort to tackle online bullying and threats.
Sweden’s media companies appear unmoved by this. They have urged Sweden’s government and the parliament to use their role as majority owners in Telia, “to ensure that the company works as a role model for net neutrality and the right to freedom of expression on the Internet.”
Telia is not the only Swedish company to offer zero-rated services, however: 3 Sweden now allows its users to stream music from Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Google Music or SoundCloud without it affecting their data plans.
