MEA Sets Up New And Emerging Strategic Technologies Division To Deal With Security Implications Of 5G, AI

In a bid to deal with emerging security implications arising due to emergence of new technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence, the Ministry of External Affairs has announced the setting up of a new division on New and Emerging Strategic Technologies (NEST), reports LiveMint.

The development comes as the government has allowed all telecom equipment makers, including Chinese Huawei, to participate in the 5G trials.

According to the Mint report, NEST is one of the many specialised divisions created in recent years to deal with emerging challenges and scenario.

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the MEA had created a special task desk to increase investment coordination between the different states of India and foreign countries. Another desk was created to coordinate strategy on the Indo-Pacific region.

Apart from these, an energy security division, a desk to streamline India’s development partnership cooperation with countries and another to coordinated counter-terrorism strategy have been created in the foreign ministry in recent years.

The MEA’s NEST division, staffing of which is still being worked out, will reportedly act as the nodal point at the ministry for all matters related to new and emerging technologies including exchange of view with foreign governments and coordination with domestic ministries and departments.

Besides, NEST will also help in assessing the foreign policy and international legal implication of emerging technology and technology-based resources.

It will also play a role in safeguarding the interests of India at multilateral fora such as the United Nations or the G20 where rules regulating the use and access to such technologies could be framed.