Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, presided over the Digital India Dialogues, a significant event focused on the Principles of the Digital India Act. This visionary legislation aims to replace the existing IT Act, providing a robust legal framework to safeguard the rights of Digital Citizens and cultivate an environment that fosters innovation and growth.
Addressing Safety & Trust
During the Dialogues, Minister Chandrasekhar emphasized that the Digital India Act places safety and trust at its core. The Act dedicates considerable attention to this critical aspect, addressing the global concern of online harm. With India soon to have 1.3 billion internet users, ensuring that Digital Citizens can approach the online world without fear or mistrust is paramount. The Act envisions a safe and trusted internet, benefitting all stakeholders. The Minister also expressed his concerns regarding the weaponization of misinformation and disinformation, particularly highlighting the challenge posed by AI-driven deepfakes.
Balancing Innovation and User Protection
The Act recognizes the importance of emerging technologies while prioritizing user protection. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be regulated through the lens of preventing user harm. The Act aims to strike a balance, ensuring that emerging technologies do not pose risks to Digital Citizens. The industry will be encouraged to suggest guardrails for technologies like blockchain and Web 3.0. The Minister stressed that the Act does not intend to impede innovation unless it is linked to user harm. India aims to lead the charge in Web 3.0 and AI with a well-defined framework that supports innovation.
Compliance Support for Startups
Addressing concerns about compliance burdens on startups, Minister Chandrasekhar assured stakeholders that recent laws, such as the CERT-In directions released in April 2022 and the upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Bill of 2023, provide exemptions or extended compliance timelines for startups. This approach acknowledges the unique challenges faced by startups and encourages their participation in India's digital economy.
A Crucial Pillar of India's Cyber Law Framework
The Digital India Act will form a vital pillar of the Government's Global Standard Cyber law framework, which aims to accelerate India's digital economy goals. Alongside the Act, other elements of this comprehensive framework include the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, the National Data Governance Framework policy, recent amendments to the IT Rules, and CERT-In guidelines. Together, these measures will help shape a robust and secure digital ecosystem.
Inclusive Consultations for Effective Legislation
The Digital India Dialogues witnessed the active participation of a diverse range of stakeholders from the technology ecosystem. Industry associations, startups, IT professionals, think tanks, and legal experts collectively engaged in the consultations. Approximately 300 stakeholders attended the dialogue, with 125 individuals present in person and 175 participating virtually. This consultative approach aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for inclusive law and policy-making.
Share
Tweet
