Context
Of late, the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), also called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed, wherein much heed has been paid to conventional sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, one very important segment — India’s digital sector — has remained untouched.
What Is Digital Sovereignty?
It refers to a nation’s ability to control its digital infrastructure, data, and technology ecosystem in alignment with its laws, values, and strategic interests. It encompasses:
(a) Data localisation and ownership.
(b) Regulation of foreign tech platforms.
(c) Cybersecurity and digital infrastructure independence.
(d) Protection of digital rights and privacy.
Significance for India
(i) Security: Foreign control over digital infrastructure poses risks of surveillance, sabotage, as well as data breaches.
(ii) Economy: Without sovereignty, India will become a digital colony — producing value for others while losing control over its assets.
(iii) Democracy: Algorithms as well as platforms that shape public discourse must be accountable to Indian laws and values.
More precisely, it is about ensuring that India’s digital future is influenced by Indian priorities — not by global tech giants or foreign governments.
Prevalent Concerns
(i) Data Colonialism: Indian user data is always stored as well as processed abroad, and global platforms monetise Indian data with sufficient accountability.
(ii) Platform Dominance: A few foreign companies, most of the time, operate with opaque algorithms and very little regulatory oversight. Also, Foreign norms shape Content moderation and misinformation policies, not Indian realities.
(iii) Weak Indigenous Alternatives: India lags in indigenous alternatives to global tech platforms. Moreover, the absence of a national digital stack for social media, search, and cloud services compromises strategic autonomy.
(iv) Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: India still relies on foreign cybersecurity tools and protocols. As a result, Critical infrastructure is vulnerable to external threats due to the same issue.
Consequences & Impacts
(a) Digital trade agreements establish permanent rules — not similar to commodity tariffs, they are close to irreversible.
(b) India risks becoming a policy-taker in this rising international digital architecture, influenced by Western Big Tech interests.
(c) India’s digital policy is reactive, exposing it to systemic vulnerabilities, without a proactive roadmap.
Initiatives to Strengthen India’s Digital Sovereignty
(i) Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): India has pioneered DPI as a foundational layer for secure, inclusive, and scalable digital services like Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), DigiLocker, and DIKSHA.
(ii) Cloud Infrastructure & Data Sovereignty: Key initiatives include MeghRaj (GI Cloud), National Data Centres (NDCs), and Empanelment of Cloud Service Providers (CSPs).
(iii) AI & Deep-Tech Leadership: Initiatives like DeepTech Fund of Funds, and National Centres of Excellence for Skilling focusing on AI, cloud and automation skills.
(iv) Cybersecurity & Strategic Infrastructure: Subsea Cable Expansion and TRUST Framework protect India’s digital backbone from external threats and ensure strategic autonomy.
(v) Digital Governance & Capacity Building: iGOT Karmayogi Platform, e-Office Initiative, and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) modernize governance and empower public servants to operate in a digital-first environment.
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Way Forward
(i) Enact Robust Data Protection Laws: Finalize and enforce a strong data protection framework. Mandate data localization for sensitive sectors.
(ii) Build Indigenous Infrastructure: Give fiscal aid to Indian alternatives for cloud and social platforms. Give patronage to startups through public procurement, funding, and handholding.
(iii) Regulate Big Tech: Platform should be made more accountable, transparent, and competitive with clear rules. Make sure that algorithms and content moderation align with Indian legal standards.
(iv) Strengthen Cyber Capabilities: Make indigenous cybersecurity tools and protocols. Formulate the country’s cyber strategy with specific roles for government, industry, and civil society.
(v) Foster Digital Literacy and Rights: Citizens should know their digital rights and privacy. Promote ethical tech development, aligning with Indian values.
Conclusion
Being the world’s largest and vibrant democracy and an emerging tech power, India is obliged and also has the opportunity to lead with a model of digital sovereignty that is inclusive, secure, and self-reliant. So, here India needs to swiftly and prudently move from reactive diplomacy to strategic one, or risk becoming a digital colony ruled and influenced by foreign tech rules.