1. The digital sphere is dominated by corporations. Given that, what are the unique features about exercising sovereignty in the digital sphere?<\/strong>
The domination of the internet<\/a> by Big Tech<\/a> is a very recent phenomenon - about 10-12 years old. But the era of unfettered Big-Tech domination of the internet<\/a> is ending and the internet is at an inflection point today. New and newer start-ups are important players that are directing innovation and disruption of the current and future internet.
Our approach to digital sovereignty is primarily about ensuring the internet is Open, Safe & Trusted and Accountable (OSTA<\/a>) for our digital nagriks and to ensure digital nagriks have their fundamental rights protected in the digital space. The Narendra Modi<\/a> government is building the framework piece by piece to ensure that our policy goals and deliverables to our citizens indeed materialise. Internet and cyberspace<\/a> are boundary-less and the jurisprudence around it will continue to evolve. However, it's incorrect to believe that no laws of a country apply. We are working hard to dispel that delusion by new rules and laws.
2. The digital economy is based on the ease with which data flows. As Big Tech<\/a> dominates all stages of the data value chain, how can GoI policy ensure a level playing field and an open pathway for potential competitors?
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Data and data flows are the lifeline of the digital economy and innovation ecosystem. Data is also fuelling innovation in emerging areas like AI and machine learning. Since 2016 digital privacy and data protection are also fundamental rights of Indian citizens. A comprehensive framework is required to allow the growth of innovation as well as protecting our citizens especially since more and more Indians are connecting to the internet. About 80 crore Indians use the internet today and in the next 2-3 years, this number will go up to 120 crore. A National Data Governance Framework Policy<\/a> is being drafted and is currently undergoing consultations. That policy along with a more focussed Digital Data Privacy<\/a> law will be the framework that addresses the requirements for data\/innovation economy and digital privacy protections that our citizens deserve.
3. UNCTAD estimates that by the end of 2022, the share of the top-five tech corporations in global digital advertising spending is expected to exceed 70%. Isn't this concentration of revenue likely to undermine democracies?<\/strong>
One of the boundary conditions for Modi government's evolving policies for the internet is openness. Openness is converse of market dominance and our goals are to ensure no platforms have power to distort the open nature and choice of the internet. Among the many areas of concentration of power on the internet is the issue of digital advertising and Ad-tech dominance by a few Big Tech platforms that are intermediaries of the internet.
This is not an acceptable situation and contradicts our government's idea of openness and choice in this area.
4. The EU, China and Russia have each adopted their own way to exercise digital sovereignty. What is the best way forward for India?<\/strong>
India is world's oldest and largest democracy. India is also the world's leading digital democracy and has emerged as one of the world's pre-eminent nations in the use of technology to improve people's lives and opportunities. In many ways we are a beacon to the world's democracies, and with our last seven years of successes, we will also play an important role working with other democracies in shaping the future of the internet.
India's model will never ever be the walled-off big-state model of China or even Russia. Our PM's vision is to ensure our internet reflects our democratic and open values and hence the boundary conditions of OSTA<\/a> will always protect our citizens' and start-ups' rights online.
5. <\/strong>Digital sovereignty is a double-edged sword as its exercise is also susceptible to abuse of state power? What is your take on this issue?<\/strong>
Our law-making and rule-making are all done with transparency in its goals and objectives. Wherever government has powers to intervene in public interest, those powers are and will continue to be used with due process, safeguards and responsibility. Government's rights in the data domain will be very different from that of private sector companies, because of the very different goals of government and governance.
Further, India is governed by rule of law. When laws or rules are enacted that are violative of rights, everybody including foreign companies have the right to judicial reviews.
We are living in a world full of opportunities in the post-Covid era. As a nation of many crores of young Indians with energy, innovation and determination to shape the future of India and the world, our government's objective is to be an enabler of that future of a New India.
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