“India Transports More Data Than US and China Combined, Hence We Must Be In Control,” Says Minister Suresh Prabhu

Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu has stated that India was transporting more data than the US and China combined and that the Indian government would bring in necessary regulations and corrective action to protect citizen’s privacy and ownership of data.

“India is transporting more data than the US and China put together and the top six companies in the world are using this data with value addition and monetization... India is strengthening its legal system and regulatory framework to deal with this world of digital data,” the Minister said.

While addressing the “International Colloquium on Ethics and Governance of Autonomous AI System for a Better World” in New Delhi on 18 February (2019), Prabhu noted that asymmetries are being created as most of the data is under the control of a handful of companies.

“This has given rise to a very powerful elite who are controlling millions of lives. The government will have to take massive efforts in the fundamental education of every Indian from school level so that access to mathematics and technology is available to each and every studthe ent.

In the present world, those who can’t access technology will be on the other side as AI is creating an ethical divide. Therefore, education at the foundation level has to be upgraded urgently,” he added.

Mukesh Ambani Bats For Data Localisation

Warning against ‘data colonisation’ by global corporations, Reliance India Limited (RIL) Chairperson Mukesh Ambani has urged the Indian government to ensure that Indian data is owned by Indians and not by foreign entities.

"Data is a new oil and new wealth. Gandhiji led India’s movement against political colonisation. Today, we have to collectively launch a new movement against data colonisation,” he said.

Also Read: Can India Defeat Tech Colonisation?